Kamduni says ‘no’ to Park Street rape verdict

By Arnab Mitra

Kolkata: The verdict on the Park Street Rape case which gave 10 years of imprisonment to the criminals on the proposal of public prosecutor Sarbani Roy, faced avid criticism from all sides, with some people raising questions as to how a government employee can act against the government.

The residents of Kamduni also reacted strongly against the court's verdict and demanded a harsher punishment for the criminals.

Kamduni came into the limelight after the brutal gang rape and murder of a college girl named Shipra Ghosh. Similar to the Park Street case, this rape was also denied by West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee who had termed the protestors "Maoists".

Mousumi Koyal, a Kamduni resident said, "The court verdict on the Park Street case is very disappointing. The government has repeatedly tried to hamper this case as well (Shipra Ghosh rape and murder). We have even received threats from party workers."

"Recently, the judge was removed from this case and it was shifted from the Barasat Court to the Bankshal Court. We still have full faith on the system. We want to see the criminals getting the maximum punishment," she added.

Another resident, Malina Koyal said, "We demanded 'hanged till death'. They have no right to live in this society".

At a rally organized by AIDWA (CPIM women's unit) and DYFI from Kakdwip to Kamduni to protest against the rising atrocities on women in West Bengal, AISWA Vice President Ramala Chakraborty slammed the CM saying, "The Park Street case court verdict proved who was right and who was wrong. However, the verdict is rather disappointing. We are demanding the maximum punishment for the criminals."

According to recent data published by the National Women Commission, West Bengal comes second in terms of rape, women molestation and violence. It is high time the government takes necessary steps for women protection, instead of standing tall for criminals.

Mousumi Koyal and Malina Koyal speak on the Park Street Rape verdict: