State police secures capital punishment in Farakka rape & murder case
Kolkata: In another remarkable achievement within a week of securing capital punishment of the convict of the Joynagar (Kultali) rape and murder case, the state police secured capital punishment of one of the convicts in the Farakka rape and murder case while the other one was awarded with life imprisonment on Friday.
Congratulating the state police for their efforts to deliver justice to the victims and their family members, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted on her X handle: “Barely a week ago, WB Police and our justice system secured capital punishment within just 62 days for the perpetrator of a brutal rape-murder of a minor in Joynagar. Today, death penalty has been awarded to one of two accused in the heinous rape-murder of yet another minor in Farakka on 13.10.24, with his co-accused getting a life term. I have said this before, and I will say it again: Every rapist deserves nothing less than the harshest punishment—capital punishment. As a society, we must unite to eradicate this heinous social malice. I believe that swift, time-bound trials and punishments will serve as a powerful deterrent, sending a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated. I congratulate the state police and all involved in the prosecution process for this achievement, while my thoughts and prayers are with the family of the victim.”
The judgement gains significance in the backdrop of the rape and murder of a Post Graduate Trainee (PGT) doctor at the RG Kar Hospital where the CBI failed to submit its chargesheet against the former officer in-charge (OC) of Tala Police Station and former principal of the hospital, Sandip Ghosh within stipulated time frame due to which they were granted bail on Friday.
In the RG Kar case too, the Kolkata Police was the first to have apprehended Sanjoy Roy as the prime accused. The CBI later came to the same conclusion, based on forensics and named Roy in its charge sheet submitted on October 7 at the Sealdah Court. On Friday Supratim Sarkar, Additional Director General (ADG), South Bengal along with Syed Waquar Raza, Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Murshidabad Range and Ananda Roy, Superintendent of Police (SP), Jangipur Police District informed that in another rare instance, they have secured capital punishment of one convict in a gang rape and murder case of a minor girl while the other convict was awarded with life imprisonment within just 62 days. Earlier about a week ago, in a similar case, state police secured capital punishment of a man convicted for rape and murder of another minor girl within just 63 days of the crime committed.
During a press conference at the Bhabani Bhavan, Sarkar said that a girl aged about 10 years who came to her maternal uncle’s home during Puja vacations at Mathpara area in Farakka, had gone missing on October 13 morning while playing with other children. While searching for the girl, the mother and the grandmother of the minor learnt that their daughter was seen going somewhere with a resident of the area Dinabandhu Haldar. When they went to his residence, Dinabandhu refused to open the door and claimed that the girl didn’t come to his home.
After searching for a couple of hours, the women revisited Dinabandhu’s house when he again refused to open the door but said that the girl had come but she left. Out of suspicion, the mother and grandmother of the girl gathered several local residents following which Dinabandhu was compelled to open the door. While searching his room, the girl’s body was found wrapped in a plastic bag with a piece of cloth on her mother and multiple injuries. Local residents assaulted him. Later, police rescued him and admitted him to a hospital.
After registering the case, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed led by the SP of Jangipur. While probing, cops learnt another man identified as Subhajit Haldar was also involved in the rape and murder. During further investigation, sleuths learnt the girl was lured into a trap by Dinabandhu on the pretext of giving flowers. Another person, Subhajit, along with Dinabandhu gang raped and murdered the girl. Police also informed that both the convicts are necrophiliac.
During investigation, police sought technical help and used drone mapping software and google map to mark the presence of the convicted duo based on their mobile phones’ tower location. Police found two cigarette buts and recovered saliva samples which later was matched with the sample collected from the convicted duo. Multiple eyewitnesses were present who gave confidential statements at the court. After investigation, within 21 days the chargesheet was submitted at the Jangipur Court. The trial of the case started on November 11. After the trial, the duo were convicted on Thursday. On Friday, Dinabandhu was awarded death penalty and Subhajit was awarded imprisonment till death. Family of the girl will receive Rs 10 lakh as compensation. The body of the minor girl’s body in Joynagar of South 24-Parganas was discovered on October 5. The accused, Mustakin Sardar, was arrested within a few hours. He later confessed to the crime which led to a fast-tracked investigation, culminating in a charge sheet filed within 25 days. The trial that began on November 5, concluded swiftly, with the court hearing 36 witnesses and delivering a verdict in just 21 days. The death penalty was awarded after the court deemed the case “rarest of rare,” with the victim’s family also receiving a Rs 10 lakh compensation.
