Bengal nun gangrape: Christian forum calls for holistic probe

Hinting at a conspiracy behind the gangrape of a septuagenarian nun at a convent in West Bengal's Nadia district, a Christian forum on Sunday called for a probe by an appropriate agency for unearthing the mastermind behind the crime.

In an incident that had caused revulsion in the state and beyond, the nun was brutalised by a gang of bandits inside the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Ranaghat, some 80 km from Kolkata, on early Saturday.

Herod Mulick, working president of United State Forum for all denominational Christians, who paid a visit to the convent on Sunday, alleged police inaction in the matter.

"It's not a case of just dacoity and rape, rather the crime has been committed in pursuance of a greater conspiracy. The way minorities have been increasingly coming under attack, we feel there is a need to probe the matter by a agency fit enough to unravel the conspiracy," said Mulick.

"Had they been dacoits they would have fled after taking the valuables. But they stayed for over four hours, ransacked the entire convent and even ate and drank there. The crimes have been committed with a sinister motive," he said.

Mulick also claimed that the school authorities have been receiving threats following the suspension of a student and despite police complaints, no action was taken.

"The chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) has done the right thing by calling the CID. But if the culprits are not arrested soon then we may look towards seeking a CBI probe," said Mulick.

Mulick's claims of threats were also raised by West Bengal Commission for Women Chairperson Sunanda Mukherjee, who too blamed the police of inaction.

Mukherjee, who visited the convent, claimed that one of the teachers was recently given a death threat by some miscreants and despite a police complaint, no action was taken.