Kamduni rape accused assaulted inside Kolkata jail

Ansar Ali Mollah, the prime accused in the Kamduni rape and murder case, hospitalised after inmates assaulted him inside the Dum Dum Central Correctional Home, police said Wednesday.

"Mollah was Monday allegedly assaulted by two inmates inside the correctional home and admitted to the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. We are probing the cause of assault," said Ranvir Kumar, IG (Correctional Services).

Mollah's condition is stable now. His family has filed a police complaint in this regard alleging there is a conspiracy to kill him inside the jail.

"He did not suffer much of external injuries but we found strangulation marks across his neck. His condition is stable now and will be released today (Wednesday)," R.G. Kar Principal Parthajit Banerjee said.

Mollah and nine others were charged in the alleged June 7 gang-rape and murder of a 20-year-old student.

Kamduni villagers along with the victim's family had earlier met President Pranab Mukherjee, seeking his intervention. They have been demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation probe.

Meanwhile, the victim's family has decided to approach the Supreme Court against a Calcutta High Court order of shifting the trial from Barasat district court to a city court.

The High Court Monday directed the case be shifted from a fast-track court in the district to the Bench II of the City Session Court, presided by a woman judge. The order came after the accused stated advocates at the local court have refused to represent them.