Singur murder shuts down order

trinamul issues 48-hr bandh call after schoolgirl’s ‘rape’and
murder inside fenced-off area

The Statesman

SINGUR (Hooghly), Dec. 18: Tension erupted after the recovery of an 18-year-old girl’s charred body from inside the fenced-off area for the proposed Tata Motors small car project in Singur this morning with locals crying foul over the death.

The incident prompted Trinamul Congress to call a 48-hour bandh on 21 and 22 December and chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee to order a CID inquiry. Mr Bhattacharjee, however, declined to comment on the TMC bandh, saying that he would speak on the issue ‘when required’.

According to reports, the deceased, Tapasi Malik, who participated in a hunger-strike in her locality yesterday, in protest against land acquisition in Singur, was allegedly raped, strangled to death and finally set ablaze by unidentified miscreants near Bajemelia around 5.30 a.m. today.

Tapasi, daughter of an agricultural labourer, reportedly went outside her home to relieve herself early this morning.

The miscreants allegedly dragged her inside the fenced-off area and sexually assaulted her. They allegedly strangled her and set her ablaze. A few locals noticed the flames and reported the matter to other villagers who rushed to the spot.

They identified the body as that of Tapasi and informed her parents. Police were also informed and they immediately removed the body to Singur police station amidst resistance from locals. The body was later taken to Serampore Walsh Hospital.

Mr Manoranjan Malik, Tapasi’s father, said that though his family didn’t own any land in Singur, Tapasi was an active participant in the movement against land acquisition there.

“She attended all the rallies that took place under the banner of the Singur Krishi Jomi Raksha Committee. Local CPI-M cadres had asked us to stay off the movement. Those who were guarding the fenced-off area have committed the murder,” alleged Tapasi’s mother, Mrs Malina Malik.

Later, a police team, led by IG (II), CID, Mr DP Tarenia, spoke to relatives of the victim, but failed to establish the motive behind the crime.

“The body has been sent to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) to ascertain whether she was sexually assaulted before being murdered. We have found a pair of slippers, a bag and button of a shirt from the place,” said Mr Tarenia.

He also assured the locals that a video recording of the victim’s medical examination and postmortem would be done. Police are yet to arrest anyone in this connection.