Calcutta HC orders W.Bengal Govt.to decide on CBI probe in teen gang rape

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday ordered the West Bengal Government to state its position on whether it wanted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the double gang rape case of a Kolkata teenager, besides providing security to the victim's family.

A lawyer of the victim's family, Vikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, said: "The court has expressed its anguish. The court wanted to see how the wisdom of the government plays in the matter. The court said that the government must come forward and take a decision so that the matter is transferred to the CBI for proper investigation. If the government doesn't decide, then the court will definitely take up the case and decide as per the wisdom of the court."

The father of the dead teenager said: "Yes, I have full faith in the judicial system, and I am very hopeful and will keep fighting till the end, I don't want to say anything more than this."

Public prosecutor Kalyan Banerjee remained evasive, and said: "The matter is sub-judice what comment can I pass. I can only say that it is a premature statement."

According to media reports, the body was to be kept at Peace Haven mortuary in the city and for the condolence rally.

However, the victim's family blames police for forcibly taking away the body for cremation when it was being taken to the mortuary.

The family of 16-year old girl also said they faced life threats and were told to go back to their village in Bihar.

The death of the Kolkata teenager comes just over a year after a 23-year-old trainee physiotherapist died from her injuries two weeks after being gang-raped on a moving bus in New Delhi.

That case provoked a national wave of protests and the international spotlight on India's record in tackling violence against women.

Social commentators say patriarchal attitudes towards women have not been diluted by more than a decade of rapid economic growth.

Reports of rape, dowry deaths, molestation, sexual harassment and other crimes against women rose by 6.4 percent from 2011 in 2012, the government said.