CBI secures 1st conviction in 2021 WB post-poll violence

The CBI on Wednesday secured its first conviction in a case related to the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal. The case pertained to the rape of a 9-year-old girl.

Following the declaration of election results on May 2, 2021, widespread violence erupted across West Bengal, prompting the filing of multiple writ petitions in the Calcutta High Court. Reports of murder, rape and attempted rape led the Human Rights Commission to take cognisance.

On August 19, 2021, a five-judge Bench of the Calcutta High Court ordered that all cases involving murder and crimes against women, particularly rape or attempted rape, be investigated by the CBI.

According to the official, one such case, originally registered at the Manickchak police station in Malda district, was taken over by the CBI. The investigation revealed that on June 4, 2021, the accused, Rafikul Islam alias Bhelu, a retired government school teacher, lured the minor victim into his mango orchard with money and raped her. The quantum of sentence will be delivered on July 4.

India