NCW takes cognisance of Bengal double rape incident

The National Commission for Women Friday took suo motu cognisance of the alleged rape of two women from the same family in West Bengal's Howrah district.

"We have taken suo motu cognisance of the case. We have asked for an Action Taken Report from the government," NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma told IANS over phone.

Two women from the same family - a housewife in her mid-twenties and her mother-in-law - were allegedly sexually assaulted by eight people, who forced themselves into the victims' house Feb 5 night.

The Communist Party of India-Marxist has claimed the women were party supporters and were raped for refusing to support the state's ruling Trinamool Congress, which has rubbished the allegations.

Sharma said she would lead a two-member NCW team in the state Feb 11 to make a spot visit of the Birbhum district village where a 20-year-old woman was gangraped allegedly at the behest of a kangaroo court by over a dozen men Jan 20.

Shamina Shafiq would be the other member of the delegation.

"We will go to Birbhum. In Kolkata we will hold a meeting with the state director general of police and other officials regarding the recent incidents of sexual assault in the state," said Sharma.

The tribal girl of Subalpur village in Birbhum was allegedly violated for having an affair with a man outside her community.