Nun rape suspect sent to police custody by court

Ranaghat(WB), March 26: A local court on Thursday remanded Sikander Sheikh alias Salim, the first suspect to have been arrested by CID from Mumbai for the gangrape of a 71-year-old nun at a convent here to 14-day police custody.

Sikander, who was picked up from Nagpada area in south Mumbai last night by West Bengal police in coordination with Mumbai police, was produced before the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Papia Das.

Das remanded Sheikh to 14-day police custody as demanded by CID.

None of the lawyers of the local bar association stood for the accused.

Milan Sarkar, secretary of Ranaghat Bar Association said the decision was taken as the man had committed a "heinous crime".

The Sister Superior of the Convent of Jesus and Mary at Gangnapur here was gangraped in the early hours on March 14 after which a CID probe was ordered into the incident.

The nun left for an undisclosed location outside West Bengal after her discharge from hospital.

A study of the CCTV footage at the convent in Ranaghat subdivision had shown visuals of four persons, who were allegedly involved in the crime, which sparked outrage in the country and abroad.

The gang also took away Rs 12 lakh kept in the almirah locker before fleeing the place.

PTI