Journalism of Courage
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Chairman Priyank Kanoongo Sunday met the family of the 17-year-old girl whose body was found in West Bengal’s North Dinajpur district. The visit has, however, triggered a controversy owing to the prohibitory orders imposed in the region. The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) was quick to accuse the national body of “doing politics” over the girl’s death.
“The NCPCR team is taking a large contingent of media persons with them to the victim’s house in Kaliaganj in complete violation of section 144 in place there! Shameful. Doing politics with the dead bodies of children in West Bengal by the keepers of child rights! Shameful NCPCR!,” the WBCPCR tweeted.
The teenager’s body was found a day after she went missing. Her family has alleged that the girl was raped before being murdered, police said, adding that they have arrested a suspect, identified as Javed Akhtar.
In a series of tweets since Sunday morning, the state commission slammed the NCPCR and criticised Kanoongo. “Exposing an already distraught family to a large media despite their plea to be left alone to mourn. Child Rights? Shameful,” of its posts read.
Another tweet said, “It is regrettable the way NCPCR and it’s Chairperson Priyank Kanungo is commenting on the state of children and women in West Bengal. He is making provocative comments without verifying facts. This could lead to law and order situation.”
Kanoongo is leading a fact-finding team of NCPCR amid anger over the alleged rape and murder of the teenager whose body was found on Friday morning. He was allowed to visit the girl’s family along with three other representatives of the commission.
The team, which is accompanied by the police, is also likely to meet the medical board formed to conduct the post-mortem in the case.
WBCPCR chairperson Sudeshna Roy said, “They are repeatedly breaking the rules. They never inform us that they are coming. They completely bypass the State Child Protection Commission. The rule is they should work in coordination with us. The kind of comments Priyank Kanoongo is making without knowing the facts is illegal and today he has taken media persons to a place where section 144 has been imposed.”
On Friday morning, tension gripped the area when local residents along with the victim’s family members blocked a road with her body, demanding punishment for the culprits, alleging it was a case of gangrape.
BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said, “What happened following the girl’s death was out of people’s anger. The state government unnecessarily blames the BJP to divert the matter. What is the objection if the National Commission wants to visit the spot and meet the family? What are they trying to hide? The way the state leaders are giving statements, the way the state commission for child rights has attacked the NCPCR on Twitter and the way the police took the body, definitely raises doubts in the common man’s mind.”
The preliminary post-mortem report in the case revealed there was no injury to the girl’s body, North Dinajpur Superintendent of Police (SP) Mohammed Sana Akhtar said Saturday. However, as per the complaint submitted by the victim’s family, a case was filed under section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The NCPCR had earlier alleged that the state chief secretary and the North Dinajpur collector were not responding though they were informed about the incident.
