TMC Alleges Sexual Assault on Minor by CRPF Jawan, Writes to Top Poll Official

TMC said it has lodged an official complaint with the Tarakeshwar Police Station, and an FIR has been registered.

Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien has written to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer alleging that a CRPF jawan in Hooghly has perpetrated “gruesome sexual assault on a minor girl”.

TMC has alleged that the crime took place in Tarakeswar in Hooghly district. Tarakeshwar is among the constituencies that have gone to polls on Tuesday, April 6, in West Bengal.

Speaking from the TMC headquarters in Kolkata, O’Brien said, “We got this news at 9.30 in the morning but we wanted to be absolutely sure…because a few channels were showing it…now it’s doubly confirmed.”

In a video tweeted by the TMC handle, O’Brien says that the CRPF member was “caught molesting an underage girl.”

He said that locals reportedly caught the person and beat him up.

“This is unforgivable,” O’Brien said.

In the letter written to the CEO, the TMC says that the CRPF jawan “brutally and viciously sexually assaulted a minor girl, a resident of Ramnagar GP.” O’Brien wrote that the crime took place beside the Ramnagar Primary School.

TMC said it has lodged an official complaint with the Tarakeshwar Police Station, and an FIR has been registered.

“The sexual attack has the effect of terrorizing the electorate of the constituency and transcends all notions of a free and fair election,” the letter said.

TMC has also alleged that the CRPF has been siding with the Bharatiya Janata Party and has been inactive when it comes to complaints against BJP members engaging in voter suppression.

“The blatant misuse of Central forces continues unabated. Despite us repeatedly raising this issue, [the Election Commission] continues to be a mute spectator while men in uniform are being misused at several places to openly intimidate TMC voters and influence many to vote in favour of one party,” West Bengal Chief Minister tweeted.