4-year-old is latest rape victim in Kolkata

4 days after she was raped, family lodges complaint amid protest by locals.

Amid the candlelight vigils and protest meetings being held almost on a daily-basis in different parts of the country, including Kolkata, in the wake of Delhi gangrape case, it seems that the social mindset about rapes have not changed.

Fearing "dire consequences", it took a mother four days to complain to the police that her four-year-old daughter has been raped and assaulted by a youth. The complaint was lodged late Wednesday night at Kasba police station in south Kolkata after locals came to know about the incident and protested in front of the local police station.

According to police, the girl was allegedly raped on December 31 by 26-year-old Debabrata Das, who is distant relative of the victim's family and had an access to the victim's house. Das, a resident of Kumarpara, was arrested today.

"We have taken the victim for medical test. She has been tortured and assaulted. There are marks of assault on her face too. But her mother lodged the complaint after more than 48 hours had passed. She told us that she and her husband were threatened against lodging the complaint," said a senior police officer.

However, locals alleged that the victim's family members were given money to "suppress the incident". Locals came to know about the incident after the victim fell ill on Wednesday.

Doctors claimed that she had been assaulted physically.

Over 200 residents then demonstrated in front of Kasba police station demanding immediate arrest of Das. A group of women also reached the police station and demanded a written assurance from police about severe punishment for the accused.

When officials expressed their helplessness in giving such written assurance, the crowd turned violent. Suddenly, the situation spun out of control as they attacked police vehicles and pelted stones at policemen as well as mediapersons. At least, six vehicles were damaged. Police have arrested four persons on charges of rioting.

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