Kolkata tribal rape: Mamata Banerjee orders removal of Birbhum SP

Kolkata, Jan 23: Angry with the police for not seeking remand of the accused in the gangrape of a tribal girl at Labhpur, West Bengal Chief Minister

today ordered removal of Birbhum district Superintendent of Police C Sudhakar.

Banerjee, who wanted strictest punishment for the culprits, was annoyed with the police for not seeking police remand of the 13 accused who were sent to judicial custody by a court in Birbhum earlier in the day, a top state administration sources told PTI.

Explanations have been sought from Birbhum Superintendent of Police regarding the incident, they said, adding the case would be taken up afresh so that the police remand of the accused could be sought. The gangrape allegedly took place at the order of the kangaroo court at Labhpur.

Banerjee, who is also in charge of the home portfolio and is now on a visit to Darjeeling, condemned the incident and instructed immediate removal of Sudhakar. She also ordered Kunal Agarwal, Darjeeling Superintendent of Police to take charge in Birbhum.

The girl's family had filed a complaint with Labhpur police station that the incident took place following a meeting by her community leaders who decided to mete out the "punishment" for her "crime" of being in love with someone outside her community.

PTI