Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Sunday expressed concern over the schoolgirl's murder in Siliguri subdivision.
“This kind of criminality in the border areas has to stop. This is the Chicken's Neck, a strategically important area.... The younger generation is polluted and crimes against girl children cannot be tolerated,” said Bose, who met the girl's family.
The Siliguri Corridor, which stretches around 50km from North Dinajpur district and moves through Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts, is often referred to as Chicken's Neck. This is the slimmest part of the Indian subcontinent, between Nepal in the north and Bangladesh in the south. Along the corridor, the width of India is around 20km.
The girl’s mother urged him to take steps to prevent criminal activities and the prevalence of narcotics in the area. The arrested accused is suspected to be a drug abuser.
“We have only one agenda, and that is, the protection of the girl child. We need to eliminate violence and corruption and protect the girl child. I will spare no effort in ensuring that a girl child finds it safe to live in Bengal,” Bose said at a news conference at the state guest house.
The BJP and some Sangh Parivar outfits have held protests, demanding exemplary punishment of the accused.
On Saturday, a strike was observed across the hills.
Trinamul has claimed the police have cracked the case and the law will take its own course. The BJP and organisations like the VHP are trying to foment tension, Trinamul has alleged.
“I am not here for any blame game. No one should play politics over the dead body and let’s not do it for the honour of the girl. It is a much more serious issue,” the governor said.
A two-member team from the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR), comprising chairperson Sudeshna Roy and adviser Ananya Chakraborti, also visited the girl’s house.
The commission assured the family that they would recommend the highest penalty for the accused.
“Since the post-mortem report has come in and sexual assault has been confirmed in the report, the police are adding POCSO to the charges of rape and murder. The commission strongly feels... the dead have their dignity and condemns any attempt at politicising the unfortunate death,” the WBCPCR release.