TMC MLA Shashi Panja downplays Malda sexual assault case

On Saturday (July 22), Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Shashi Panja courted controversy after she tried to downplay the sexual assault on two girls in West Bengal’s Malda district.

On being requested about her assertion on the disturbing incident, she claimed, “This happened in a hatt (market) inside a big village, Pakuahat. There was a case of theft. People apprehended the two women, who committed the theft. This led to a scuffle with other women.”

“Bechara sabhi gareeb hai…Aab kapde nikal gaye…jitna bhi nikla hai… usko rajneeti ke chashmein se kyu dekh raha hai (All of them are poor…Yes the women were somehow disrobed… to whatever extent…there is no point in politicising the incident),” Shashi Panja trivilaised the seriousness of the crime.

#WATCH | Kolkata: “There is totally no have to politicise the Malda incident. It was a case of theft, the place the 2 women tried to steal one thing from the market. A bunch of girls tried to take regulation & order into their fingers and began beating them. However, the police… pic.twitter.com/ZenwofcxzK

— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2023

The TMC chief then claimed that the police got here to the rescue of the 2 girls, though no personnel have been seen within the viral video. “Police tried to break the fight but they got overpowered by ladies,” she conceded.

Interestingly, Shashi Panja tried to trivialise the sexual assault by repeatedly claiming that the perpetrators have been additionally girls. “It is not right for the women to take law and order into their own hands but they also had to stop the two women from running away with stolen goods,” she mentioned.

She additional added, “Anyway, the police have initiated an inquiry into the matter and a case has been registered.” Shashi Panja serves because the Minister for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare within the West Bengal authorities.

The Background of the Controversy

On Friday (July 21), a disturbing video went viral on social media whereby two girls have been seen being stripped bare and thrashed by a frenzied mob. The incident reportedly befell on July 19, 2023.

As per a report by TV9 Bangla, the incident befell at Pakuahat within the Malda district of West Bengal. The space falls underneath the jurisdiction of the Bamangola police station.

According to the information outlet, the 2 girls have been allegedly caught on suspicion of pickpocketing. They have been then surrounded by a mob of offended locals who thrashed the duo black and blue.

They tore the sarees of the ladies and stripped them bare in full public glare. The locals additionally pulled the hair of the victims and assaulted them with sneakers. The girls fought to maintain the garments on their our bodies. As seen within the video, none got here to the rescue of the ladies.

According to TV9 Bangla, the victims are mentioned to be residents of Manikchak village of Malda. While talking concerning the matter, BJP nationwide spokesperson Amit Malviya mentioned that the 2 girls belonged to the tribal group.