Governments must put down kangaroo courts: Narayanan

Women Welfare Minister hopes for sensitivity and sympathy from all towards the victim

After a kangaroo court ordered the gang-rape of a tribal girl in Birbhum district, West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan today said such courts should be put down by all state governments.

 

"Kangaroo courts are no courts at all. Not only the state government, but all governments all over the country must put down these kangaroo courts," Narayanan told reporters here when asked about the horrific incident.

 

State Women and Child Welfare minister Shashi Panja who visited the Suri hospital where the victim was admitted said her medical tests were normal.

 

"She is returning to normal in hospital. The reports are good," Panja said.

 

The girl would decide whether she wanted to stay on in the village in future.

 

"The girl will decide that. We hope that people will see the case with sensitivity and have sympathy towards the girl. We expect that everyone will co-operate," the minister said.

 

Suri Hospital Superintendent Ashit Biswas said that the health parameters of the victim were good, but she was being counselled after the trauma she was subjected to.

 

IG (Western Range), Siddhinath Gupta, DIG (Burdwan Range) L N Meena, District Magistrate Jagdish Prasad Meena also visited the hospital. They did not speak to reporters. The new Superintendent of Police Alok Rojoria said that investigations were proceeding.

 

A four-member forensic team visited Subolpur village in Labhpur police station area where the girl was raped on January 21 and collected samples.

 

A police picket has been posted at the village, while two constables were guarding the victim's house.

 

The 13 people accused of the gang-rape on the orders of a kangaroo have been remanded to police custody for 13 days.