West Bengal rural woman accuses CRPF personnel of harassing her

Kolkata, July 22 (ANI): A woman from Birhandi village in Paschimi Medinipur District of West Bengal accuses paramilitary personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of harassing her.

The provincial lawmaker assured her on Wednesday, of justice by drafting a complaint.

Corroborating her charges, several villagers claimed that paramilitary forces and West Bengal Police tortured them during the anti-Maoist operation and about ten women in the village were allegedly assaulted.

"I was coming back with my cow and some CRPF jawans came to me and held my hand and ordered me to sit down in my house. When I didn't respond they tortured me and pressurised me to sit down.

Two of them went away and one of them tortured me. He touched my forehead with a gun and he forced me to do what he said. I was helpless," said Lalita Mahato, a victim.

They also mentioned that these security personnel had also killed some villagers.

Chunibala Hansda, a provincial lawmaker from Jhargram visited and met the victims, assuring them justice.

"We want justice and for that I will inform SDO (Sub-Divisional Officer) by a written document. I also want villagers to submit a written document. I will produce this letter and raise the subject in Assembly that those village women who were responsible to gain votes for the CPIM (Communist Party of India-Marxist) are now called Maoist and tortured by joint force," claimed Hansda.

"We want Buddhadeb Bhattacharya to resign and withdraw the joint force. We want peace and police must keep away from these villages," said Hansda.

Earlier, on Tuesday about 10,000 women accompanied by young girls had staged a mass procession at Jhargram to voice their protest against these incidents.

They demonstrated against alleged harassment by the personnel of paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on the pretext of flushing out Maoists.

The rally, which was held under the aegis of 'Nari Izzat Bachao Committee' consisted of women from around 50 villages, gathered outside the Sub Divisional Office of Jhargram and held their demonstration. By Rick Sundar (ANI)