Women suffered all kinds of violence during polls in WB: NCW

National Commission for Women chief Rekha Sharma said on Thursday a large number of women in West Bengal suffered all kinds of voilence during the last elections, adding that human rights are under threat.

"West Bengal is in bad shape. All human rights are under threat. Women in large number suffered all kinds of violence in last elections," the NCW chief said.

A two- member inquiry committee, led by Sharma, visited West Bengal to inquire into the atrocities on women during the recently held Panchayat polls.

During the inquiry, the team met over 45 victims who alleged molestation, rape, continuous threat to life, abduction and murder of family members.

The committee also met a rape survivor, who was allegedly six months pregnant when gangraped last month during the poll-related violence, the women rights body said in a statement here.

When the members reached Shantipur Thana in Nadia district to look into the reports related to two cases of atrocities against women including one of ganagrape, the police officials refused to cooperate with them.

They were also denied access to the copies of the FIRs and documents related to the two cases by Shantipur Thana's Additional Superintendent of Police.

Sharma said the team waited for three hours before the police finally furnished a copy of the FIR requested.

Upon examination of FIR, it was noticed that charges were framed for rape, whereas the incident that occurred was of gangrape, she said, adding the charges of gangrape will be included when the case goes to court.

At least 12 people were killed and more than 50 people injured last month in the violence during the three-tier Panchayati elections.

--IANS

nks/ahm/vm