Widow ‘gang-raped’ by train robbers in Bengal

A middle-aged woman was allegedly raped by a gang of robbers after she tried to confront them during a robbery attempt in a suburban train near Katwa in Burdwan district, police said Sunday.

“We have received a report of robbery and an alleged rape in a local train. Senior railway and police officers are on their way to the crime site. Details can be said only after reaching the spot,” Director General of police (Railways) Dilip Mitra said.

The incident occurred Saturday evening when the Ahmedpur-Katwa narrow gauge local train was near Katwa. A gang of five armed men forced the train to a halt and started to loot the passengers. When the victim — a widow — tried to put up resistance, she was dragged out of the train and gang-raped.

“She was raped because she tried to confront the robbers. Other women who raised a protest were beaten up,” said a relative of the victim.

The woman has been sent to a government hospital for medical checkup.

Several woman organisations protested in front of the railway officials at Katwa demanding increased security for women commuters.

No arrest has been made so far in the case.

The incident at Katwa is the third instance of rape in the state within a short span of time.

The first was the alleged rape of an Anglo-Indian woman in the heart of Kolkata-Park Street which had taken a political colour following “insensitive” remarks by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

In the second instance, a middle-aged female rag-picker was allegedly gang-raped and then murdered by a truck driver and his helper in North 24 Parganas’ Baranagar on Feb 24.