NCSC warns Mamata Banerjee; summons top brass of police over gangrape and murder of minor

The gangrape and murder of a 17-year-old girl in West Bengal has become the latest flashpoint between the Trinamool Congress-led state government and the Centre. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has issued a stern warning to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee for obstructing an independent probe and attributing a political motive to it.

NCSC has also issued summons to the top brass of the police and the district administration to provide case information and appear before it on Friday. NCSC vice-chairman Arun Halder questioned Banerjee’s personal comments made in a press conference and said the commission had the right to conduct spot visits in case of an atrocity perpetrated on a person belonging to a Scheduled Caste. A 17-year-old girl was gangraped and murdered in Gangua village of North Dinajpur district. On April 23, Halder had visited the victim’s family and had sought the presence of the district and police administration. Speaking to ET, Halder said, “No official was present on the spot. Our team got no information despite prior intimation. Not even the investigating officer weas present. We came back without any information.” NCSC issued summons to the district magistrate, inspector general of police and the superintendent of police.

NCSC warning to Banerjee and summons follow the chief minister’s press conference where she had called Halder a “BJP man”. The NCSC vice-chairman said he had been appointed by the President of India and not a political party. Halder said, “It seems that the chief minister is not aware of the constitutional safeguards provided to the Scheduled Castes. By questioning the Commission and attributing political motives to the inquiry she has shown there is no respect for the socially and economically backward segments of the society.” Halder also warned the West Bengal government that failure to appear before the Commission on Friday following the summons could also mean issuance of arrest warrants.


The minor SC girl had gone missing from her home and her body was found a day later. The police has made two arrests in the case.