Kanoongo, along with three other NCPCR representatives, went to Kaliaganj in Uttar Dinajpur, where a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped and died.
Priyank Kanoongo, chairman of the National Commission for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday, saying she is inept when it comes to child protection.
Kanoongo and three other NCPCR delegates visited Kaliaganj in Uttar Dinajpur, West Bengal, where a 17-year-old Dalit girl was allegedly gang-raped and slain. Kanoongo told the news agency ANI, “The state government’s behavior has been the same for years; they themselves commit mistakes and then try to hide them, and as a result, they always interrupt the commission’s work.”
The chief minister always tries to protect the inept personnel in this place. Regarding the security of children in the state, I believe Mamata Banerjee is incompetent. Children lose their lives because of her carelessness. Additionally, these instances are later hushed up based on the CM’s directive, he continued.
He further said that the police had failed to communicate with the victim’s relatives and that the state’s Chief Secretary, and the North Dinajpur Collector had not responded even though the group had informed them about the tragedy. Prohibitory orders were issued under Section 144 of the CrPC in areas of Kaliaganj on Sunday, following skirmishes between villagers and police over an event in the district on Saturday. So far, the police have arrested six people in connection with their involvement in police violence and destruction.
On Friday, the body of a 17-year-old girl was discovered in a canal in Kaliaganj, North Dinajpur district. Based on a complaint lodged by the girl’s mother, a case was filed under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code and sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. Based on the complaint, two people have been arrested.