NEW DELHI: The horrific rape and murder of a minor girl in West Bengal’s Baruipur, around 30 km from Kolkata, a lynching, allegations of a local BJP leader helping the accused, and Mamata Banerjee’s claims of being put under house arrest have posed the first major challenge for the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government.
The challenge for Suvendu is twofold – ensure steadfast justice in the case amid allegations by locals of delayed police response, and contain ‘street fighter’ Mamata.
Last week, the small town of Baruipur erupted after the body of the 12-year-old, who went missing hours ago, was found in a pond, stuffed inside a gunny bag.
What added to the outrage was the brutality of the crime. The preliminary autopsy revealed that the girl was sexually abused and tortured before being thrown into the pond when she was still alive.
Much of the anger was against the administration, with the minor’s family alleging that the police did not promptly initiate an investigation to find the missing girl.
The incident has provided Mamata her first major opportunity to mount a political attack on the BJP government since its historic May election win. Suvendu understands it very well, having been one of her trusted aides for years.
Despite a split in the Trinamool and the party being the weakest since its inception, Mamata remains single-handedly capable of galvanising the streets and setting the political narrative in the state. It was seen on Monday, as the feisty TMC supremo led a candlelight rally despite cops putting up guardrails around her Kalighat residence.
The BJP knows very well that the sight of Mamata hitting the streets does not augur well for it. Mamata’s fearless image of a street fighter has been the bedrock of her political career.
On Sunday, there was a heavy deployment of police and central forces outside Mamata’s residence. Barricades were installed, and at least 10 police vehicles were stationed in the narrow lane. The TMC alleged that it was aimed at preventing Mamata from visiting the family of the victim.
In a post, Mamata alleged that she was put under “house arrest”. “I don’t know why they are not letting me go out. I don’t know why I am such a threat?” Mamata said.
The BJP, however, called it a routine security arrangement for a Z-plus category protectee, and accused the TMC of trying to “manufacture a controversy”.
On Monday, a TMC delegation of the Mamata faction, led by MPs Dola Sen and Pratima Mondal, met the victim’s parents. The party also launched a sharp attack on Suvendu for not finding time to visit Baruipur.
