In a recent incident of human trafficking in West Bengal, a 14-year-old girl Tutuki Mandal, resident of Magrahat block who was appearing for Class Xth exams was allegedly kidnapped by local goons and despite constant plea of her father with the local police and administration, her fate remains unknown.
The incident happened on February 25, 2015, when the girl went to a bank to check her balance. There three persons abducted her, it is alleged . According to girl’s father, these three goons allegedly had the protection of a local don by the name of Salim, who it is alleged is a notorious criminal in the area.
After hearing the news, girl’s father immediately rushed to local Panchayat Pradhan who assured him of trying his best to recover his daughter and told him to meet next day. However, when the father went to Pradhan the next day, he advised him to lodge a complaint at the local police station. The father went to the Magrahat Police Station and lodged a complaint.
On the night of March 7, Salim’s men it is alleged called the girl’s father for a meeting at one Babusona Gazi’s home. When he went there, it is alleged that around 50 men were present with pistols and guns to threaten him. They allegedly ordered him to sign some blank papers and told him to withdraw the complaint. When he objected, the goons allegedly warned that he will see her daughter only if he withdrew the complaint and not get the girl medically examined.
They also promised to help him financially with his daughter’s marriage. Frightened and devoid of any other option to save her, the father agreed to their proposal and signed the papers after which they handed his daughter to him. At home, girl’s mother informed the father that their daughter has been repeatedly raped.
They also promised to help him financially with his daughter’s marriage. Frightened and devoid of any other option to save her, the father agreed to their proposal and signed the papers after which they handed his daughter to him. At home, girl’s mother informed the father that their daughter has been repeatedly raped.
On March 9, girl’s father went to Magrahat Police Station where the Investigating Officer it is alleged compelled him to sign some papers. Afterwards, the girl was taken to medical examination by police where it is alleged that Salim’s goons were already present and they allegedly threatened the father and girl openly brandishing guns at them even in the presence of the police. The girl was very scared so she signed a paper that mentioned she was not willing to get a medical examination done.
Scared of the goons, the parents decided to marry their girl despite her being under age.The father informed the local Panchayat Pradhan about the marriage. He also informed the elder brother of the accused about it as they had promised to help him with his daughter’s marriage.
On May 5 at 1:00 am, the accused accompanied with his father and brother-in-law it is alleged barged into the victim’s house. After switching off the electricity supply in the area, it is alleged that they ransacked the house at gun point and looted all the money and ornaments that the victim’s father had collected for her marriage. Afterwards, it is alleged that they took the girl again with them. When the parents screamed for help, the goons allegedly hurled bombs and fled.
The victim’s father again met the Pradhan for help but he allegedly didn’t do anything.On the evening of May 5, 2015, he went to Magrahat Police Station and narrated the whole incident to the Officer in Charge and the Investigating Officer. He noticed that while lodging the complaint, the police excluded the name of the accused Instead, the police added new names. When the father protested, the officer it is alleged scolded him and warned him to sign the papers if he wanted to see his daughter alive.
The victim’s father said that afterwards he has been to the police station several times to enquire about his daughter and also told them that he and his family is under constant threat from the accused’s family and friends and also from Salim’s thugs. The police, however, always tell him that they are trying.
Losing all faith in police, the father decided to visit Kolkata and ask for help from Tapan Ghosh, founder and editor of Hindu Samhati, an organization that looks after the causes and issues of Hindu community. Tapan Ghosh promised him to help and retrieve his daughter as soon as possible. He helped the victim’s father draft a letter to PM Modi as well as to West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee to ask them for help in finding his daughter.
On June 29, the victim’s father got a call from an unknown person who told him to go to Sonarpur to get his daughter. Accompanied with a few members of Hindu Samhati and three relatives, when the father reached Sonarpur, the same unknown person told him to go to Ghutiyari Sharif, which is known for a number of notorious criminals residing there.
Taking all the risks, eventually they reached there. The Investigating Officer it is alleged was also there accompanied by policemen from Jibantala Police Station. The victim’s father didn’t know how they got the news. The location was adjacent to Dhoaghata mosque.
Taking all the risks, eventually they reached there. The Investigating Officer it is alleged was also there accompanied by policemen from Jibantala Police Station. The victim’s father didn’t know how they got the news. The location was adjacent to Dhoaghata mosque.
The father it is allegedly repeatedly requested the police to stay away but they didn’t listen. The unknown person realized that the father was accompanied by the police and immediately cut the call. The police left afterwards.
In a few moments after the police left, hundreds of people rushed to them from the mosque and attacked the victim’s father, relatives and members of Hindu Samhati. With no police support, they had no option but to flee from there.As of today, the father still hasn’t found his daughter and Tutuki Mandal’s fate remains unknown.
Vikram Sharma : Honored to meet Tapan Ghosh da in Pune today, and got first hand update of tragic Tuktuki Mondal case.Hope the writ petetion in High Court has the desired effect and Tuktuki is recovered,else the fight will go on. Tapan da might be old in years but his spirit could shame many a 30 year old!
Vikram Sharma : Honored to meet Tapan Ghosh da in Pune today, and got first hand update of tragic Tuktuki Mondal case.Hope the writ petetion in High Court has the desired effect and Tuktuki is recovered,else the fight will go on. Tapan da might be old in years but his spirit could shame many a 30 year old!
Editor’s Note: Below is a rough summary of the sequence of events as narrated by the victim’s father and translated by the organisers of the above Google Hangout. NitiCentral is making the transcript available for reader’s reference only. NitiCentral has no independent corroboration of the below sequence of events and cannot vouch for the complete reliability and accuracy of the same.
