The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken suo motu cognizance of a rape threat made against the minor daughter of Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, the party's national general secretary and nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
This development comes amid heightened public anger over the rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The child rights body was alerted to a video circulating on social media that captured a protest rally held in the wake of the August 9 incident.
During the rally, a man was heard threatening Banerjee's daughter with rape, even offering a ₹10 crore reward to anyone who would commit the heinous crime. This chilling statement has sparked widespread condemnation.
The commission issued a strongly worded statement, describing the comments as "filthy" and amounting to the "outraging of the modesty of a minor girl" while endangering her safety.
It urged law enforcement agencies to invoke the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Juvenile Justice Act, and the UN Convention on Rights of a Child against the perpetrator.
“While the entire state is grieving the tragic death of the doctor at RG Kar, calling for another rape to settle scores is clearly a violation of the law and could have grave societal consequences if left unpunished.
This could endanger not just the girl in question but all minors,” the commission said, demanding an action taken report from the police within 48 hours.
The threat against Banerjee's daughter has drawn fierce reactions from the Trinamool Congress.
Senior party leader Derek O'Brien expressed his outrage on social media, saying, "Fight us politically with your filthy tricks. You have done it before. But today you have crossed the line. Stop threatening kids. No words are enough to condemn the gutter-level threats to our National General Secretary's daughter. STOP THIS NOW."
The state is currently embroiled in intense protests following the horrific rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College, an incident that has severely tarnished the reputation of the Mamata Banerjee-led government and the ruling Trinamool Congress.
The administration’s handling of the case has been heavily criticized, with accusations of political interference and incompetence.
In response, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused opposition parties, particularly the BJP and CPM, of conspiring to create unrest in the state.
The investigation into the case has since been handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following a directive from the Calcutta High Court.
Before the transfer, Kolkata Police had arrested one suspect, Sanjoy Roy. However, the CBI is yet to make any arrests.
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