A minor girl belonging to a tribal community was raped and murdered in West Bengal's city of Siliguri by a male acquaintance earlier this week, the police said.
The body was found on Friday morning in a tea plantation located near Salbari on National Highway-55, connecting Siliguri with Darjeeling.
"She had been missing since September 21, after she attended sewing classes at Salbari. Her family members had filed an FIR at the Pradhannagar police station," a senior police official told the Indian Express adding that the girl's father is a sweeper at the Siliguri Municipal Corporation.
According to the police, prima facie evidence suggests that the girl was raped before being murdered. They found cold drink bottles and a mobile phone while carrying out a thorough search of the spot where the body was found. The cell phone is supposed belongs to the accused.
"We believe that the girl was taken to this lonely spot by a male acquaintance and after the two drank the beverages, he raped and strangled her," another police official said.
The body was taken to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem in which it was confirmed that she was raped.
CPM leader and Siliguri Mayor Asok Bhattacharya and local councilor Mukul Sengupta visited the victim's family and assured them that the culprit will be brought to book.
Bhattacharya also wrote to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asking her to immediately intervene in the matter and also threatened protests if demands weren't met.
"Women in the state are feeling insecure and crime against them is increasing by the day. I would like to bring to your notice that during your latest visit to north Bengal, a tribal girl was raped and murdered in Siliguri. I request you to take necessary action in the matter," Bhattacharya wrote in his letter to Banerjee.
People residing in the Dhaknikata police station area, where the victim also lived, protested against police inaction on Saturday by blocking roads demanding immediate arrest of the guilty.
