Kolkata, July 7 (IANS) The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged rape and murder of a minor girl at Baruipur in South 24 Paragans district of West Bengal earlier this week, has come across some crucial digital evidence that indicates the pre-planned nature of the crime.
An insider from the Baruipur District Police said that the tower locations of the mobile phones of the three arrested in the case were the same between 4.30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on July 4, which coincides with the date and time of the estimated time of crime being committed.
Incidentally, as per the statements given by the family members of the victim, the deceased 12-year-old victim went missing at 6 p.m. on July 4 and her body was recovered from a pond at Baruipur on July 5 morning.
The insider also said that examinations of the call records of the arrested trio also give indications that the entire planning of the crime was done by the prime accused in the case, Ananda Sarkar, while the other two namely Pravas Mondal and Dibakar Sardar operated as per the instructions of Ananda.
Pravas and Dibakar were presented at a district court in Baruipur on Monday and were remanded to police custody for 14 days.
On the other hand, the prime accused Ananda, who was the last to be arrested on Monday afternoon will be presented at the same court on Tuesday and the Public Prosecutor will seek police custody for him as well.
“Once the police get the custody of all the three accused, they will be interrogated together by the investigating officials to get a clear picture of the entire planning and modus operandi of the crime,” said the Baruipur District Police insider.
West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, will go to Baruipur later in the day and interact with the family members of the victim girl.
A team from the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by the state municipal affairs & urban development minister, Agnimitra Paul, is also scheduled to go to Baruipur on Tuesday and meet the victim’s family members.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of the Baruipur mishap and has sought a detailed Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Director General of Police, West Bengal, within seven days.
The Commission has sought details regarding the registration of the FIR under the appropriate provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the POCSO Act, the immediate arrest of all persons involved in the alleged rape and murder, and the progress of the investigation.
The Commission has further sought details of the investigation into the subsequent mob lynching, action taken against all those involved, an enquiry into any lapses in policing and preventive measures, the conduct of a comprehensive forensic and post-mortem examination, and the medical, psychological, legal and compensation support extended to the victim’s family.
–IANS
src/rad