Krishnagar: Eight persons were detained in connection with the gangrape of a 71-year-old nun in a convent school, as a a high official of a Roman Catholic congregation, Religious of Jesus and Mary, arrived on Sunday to inquire into the incident.
The official, who preferred to be known only as 'sister', said she came here to make inquiries about the incident which happened in the Convent of Jesus and Mary school founded by the congregation Religious of Jesus and Mary.
Accompanied by another 'sister' from Pune, she said she had never heard of anything like this anywhere in the world and regretted that she could not meet the rape victim at the Ranaghat Hospital as the nun was sleeping.
Meanwhile, a medical board has been formed to look after the Sister Superior whose condition is stated to be stable, according to Nadia District Magistrate PB Salim, Besides a gynaecologist, a psychiatrist too has been included in the board as the nun has been traumatised after the incident, Salim said.
Hospital Superintendent AK Mondal said the victim asked him not to send to her anyone except medical persons and those related to the police investigation. Nadia SP Arnab Ghosh said eight persons had been detained in connection with the incident and were being interrogated as extensive searches were on across the district to nab other culprits.
CCTV footage at the convent had shown visuals of four persons who were involved in the crime and the SP had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for anyone providing credible information leading to the arrest of the accused. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday ordered a CID probe into the incident and promised "swift" and "strongest action" against the culprits. CID personnel were seen inside the school with a sniffer dog during the day. However, they did not say anything to the media.
West Bengal Commission for Women chairperson Sunanda Mukherjee, who visited the spot, questioned the role of the police saying the sisters of the convent school had received death threats earlier. "A complaint had been lodged but the police took no action," she said.
Herod Mullick, state working president of the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba, a united state forum of all denominational Christians, too said that the nun had sought police protection after she got life threats. CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra visited the spot and also the hospital where the senior nun is admitted.
Later, he said her health was improving. "We do not want to politicise the incident. It is a matter of shame that it has happened in our state and country," Mishra said.
He slammed the administration, saying there was no reason why the police should take so much time in finding the accused even after getting hold of the CCTV footage. A BJP team led by actress Locket Chatterjee also visited the spot. Chatterjee said it was shameful that this should have happened and that there should be no politics.
Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said the incident was related to reconversion taking place in parts of the state. "Such trends have to be stopped. The incident is shameful. Such things have started since there is a change in the government at the Centre. All steps have been taken to arrest the culprits," he told reporters at Kolkata.
The Chief Minister yesterday said religious politics was being practised in the name of "ghar wapasi" and that religious fanaticism was on the rise. Representatives of various rights organisations also came to Ranaghat to make inquiries.
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