Former Trinamool Congress MLA Nirmal Ghosh, arrested in connection with the alleged hurried cremation of the RG Kar hospital rape-murder victim, was attacked by a mob outside Khardah Police Station in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district on Friday.
Ghosh was being escorted to a prison van by security personnel when the crowd surrounded him and began hitting and kicking him, PTI reported. Despite a heavy police and Rapid Action Force presence, protesters hurled footwear, eggs and muck at the former MLA. Police personnel placed a helmet over his head to shield him from the assault.
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Ghosh was later taken to Barrackpore sub-divisional court for production. Another group waiting outside the court shouted “chor, chor” as police rushed him into the court lock-up. Stains of eggs and muck were visible on his white outfit.
{{/usCountry}}Ghosh was later taken to Barrackpore sub-divisional court for production. Another group waiting outside the court shouted “chor, chor” as police rushed him into the court lock-up. Stains of eggs and muck were visible on his white outfit.
{{/usCountry}}A similar attack was reported against another accused, former Panihati municipality councillor Sanjib Mukherjee, as police escorted him towards the vehicle taking him to court. Mukherjee, considered a close aide of Ghosh, was allegedly present at the Panihati crematorium when the doctor’s body was brought there after the autopsy. He was arrested on Thursday.
The third accused, former Panihati municipality chairman Somnath Dey, remains absconding, police said.
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Attacks on TMC members
TMC leaders have faced a series of attacks in West Bengal in recent weeks, with eggs, stones and heckling becoming a recurring feature.
Youth leader Soumitra Banerjee was pelted with eggs while being taken to court in June, while MLA Kunal Ghosh was targeted outside Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence. MP Mahua Moitra also alleged that eggs and stones were hurled at a venue where she was meeting party workers.
The incidents follow an alleged attack on Abhishek Banerjee in Sonarpur on May 30, when stones and eggs were thrown at him during a visit to meet families affected by post-poll violence.
Arrests follow fresh complaint by victim’s father
The arrests followed a fresh complaint filed by the victim’s father on Monday. The complaint was subsequently converted into an FIR and alleged that Ghosh, who was the sitting Panihati MLA at the time, used his influence along with the other accused to facilitate the “hurried cremation” of his daughter’s body against the family’s wishes, HT reported earlier.
The complaint came a day after the chief minister directed the Barrackpore police commissioner to conduct a fresh investigation into the alleged hasty cremation. The issue had remained outside the scope of the ongoing CBI probe into the rape and murder.
The direction was issued while the chief minister was attending a memorial programme for the victim doctor on Sunday, marking the second anniversary of her death.
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The victim’s parents have alleged that the cremation was conducted with undue haste to prevent the possibility of a second autopsy, which they believe could have revealed crucial evidence relating to the rape and murder.
Police are likely to seek 14-day custody of Ghosh and Mukherjee when they are produced before the magistrate.