Two incidents of rape have been reported from South Dinajpur and the neighbouring Malda district.

In South Dinajpur, a 13-year-old girl was raped allegedly by a panchayat member of the BJP on Monday night. On Wednesday, the girl’s family filed a complaint, based on which police arrested the accused person.

Sources said the accused had called the girl to his shop on Monday and raped her. Later, she was found in an unconscious state by her family and neighbours.

“When the girl’s family decided to file a police complaint on Tuesday, the panchayat member and some others threatened them with dire consequences. Yesterday (Wednesday), we learned about the incident and extended help to the family so that they could file the complaint. The accused should be punished,” said Santosh Hansda, a Trinamul leader.

Swarup Choudhury, the district BJP president, said: “We never support such atrocities on girls and the law will take its own course. But we need to find out whether Trinamul has falsely implicated him in the case.”

Senior police officers said they had registered a case under Pocso. “The Investigation is in progress,” said an officer.

In Malda, a homemaker was allegedly gang-raped on Wednesday evening.

Her husband said he was having a dispute with some of his neighbours over the ownership of a plot of land.

“It is my land and they have been trying to occupy it for the past six-seven years. Yesterday, my wife went to collect firewood. Finding her alone, three persons, with whom I have the dispute, overpowered her and raped her,” he said.

The woman, who suffered serious injuries, is under treatment at a hospital.

Police officers visited the spot and started an investigation.