Police on Sunday arrested a Trinamool worker and the husband of a Trinamool Congress gram panchayat member for allegedly raping a young homemaker in Habra, North 24-Parganas, and abettingher suicide.

The victim, who was a tenant at the accused’s home, reportedly endured over a month of sexual torture in the absence of her husband, which ultimately led her to take own life in trauma and depression last Friday.

Despite receiving a complaint of rape from her over a month ago, Habra police allegedly did not arrest the accused due to his political clout as he continued with the torture.

The woman was found hanging with a rope at the house of the accused last Friday, prompting police to start a case on the basis of a complaint lodged by her brother.

The prime accused, Jayanta Biswas, who works as a driver for Kolkata Police, and a known Trinamool Congress activist, was arrested on Sunday along with his wife, Sanchita Biswas, the gram panchayat member, for allegedly helping in the crime.

The police have also arrested the victim’s husband, for allegedly mentally torturing her upon his return.

The inaction of the police, coupled with alleged threats by the accused and accusations by her husband left the woman in severe trauma and depression leading to suicide, sources said.

The Trinamool couple and the dead woman’s husband were produced in a Bongaon court on Sunday, where they were remanded to 10 days in judicial custody.

According to the police and local sources, the victim and her husband, who worked elsewhere, had moved into a portion of Jayanta Biswas’ house a few months ago. After her husband left for work, Jayanta allegedly unleashed terror and raped the woman on multiple occasions.

“My sister faced horrific abuse in my brother-in-law’s absence,” said the victim’s brother. “Jayanta repeatedly raped her and kept threatening her with dire consequences for over a month. Despite her fear, she lodged a formal complaint with the police, but they did nothing to help”, he further alleged.

The victim was taken for medical tests on at least two occasions, both of which confirmed assault. However, the victim’s brother alleged that due to political pressure, the police apparently avoided to arrest the accused, allowing him to continue with his threats. “Had the police acted in time, my sister might have still been alive today,” he said.

Family members further alleged that the victim’s plight was multiplied due to after her husband began abusing her on his return.

“My brother-in-law did not want to take her back home. He did not stand by her, leading to her unbearable mental agony and isolation. She eventually ended her life on Friday night,” the victim’sbrother alleged.

A senior police official of the Barasat police district said the reason behind the suicide was being looked into. No suicide note was found from the room where the body was found hanging.

“A probe into the allegations of rape had began earlier. Now a complaint of abettment for suicide has been added. All angles are being looked into, including the role of police officers for any alleged negligence on their part. But it would be too early to comment on the issue now,” a senior police officer of Barasat police district said.