Mamata leads anti-SIR march from Chandpara to Matua-heartland Thakurnagar in Bengal
Thakurnagar (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday led a three-km march from Bongaon's Chandpara to Matua-heartland Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district to protest the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.
The procession, which was taken up by the Trinamool Congress supremo after addressing an anti-SIR rally at Bangaon town situated near the India-Bangladesh border, culminated at Dhakuria school in Thakurnagar, a party leader said.
Banerjee led the procession with participants carrying blue and white balloons, waving TMC flags and raising anti-SIR slogans.
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has undertaken the SIR exercise in nine states, including West Bengal, and three Union Territories.
The assembly polls are due in 2026.
Banerjee was greeted with flowers by some enthusiasts as she walked in her usual brisk pace during the march, waving at people who gathered on both sides of the streets through which the procession passed.
A few elderly women were seen embracing Banerjee during the procession. She also cuddled babies after taking them from the laps of their mothers.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mamatabala Thakur, minister Sujit Bose and former minister and MLA Jyoti Priya Mallick were among the several party functionaries who accompanied the TMC supremo in the march.
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11-year-old dies by suicide after sexual assault in Bareilly; accused arrested
Bareilly (UP) (PTI): A 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl, who later died by suicide due to trauma, police said on Wednesday.
The post-mortem report confirmed sexual assault and multiple injuries on the minor's body, including bite marks and nail scratches. The cause of death was found to be hanging, they said.
According to ASP (South) Anshika Verma, the incident came to light on 27 April, when the girl, a Class 8 student, was found hanging at her home in Deoria Abdullaganj village under the Mirganj police station area. Initially, the family reported the death as suicide and was reluctant to pursue police action.
"The autopsy report changed the course of the investigation. It confirmed sexual assault and noted severe physical trauma. The cause of death was confirmed as hanging," Verma said.
A breakthrough in the case came from the statement of the victim's younger sister, who told police that the accused, Zeeshan (26), a resident of the same village, frequently loitered near the minor's school and allegedly gave her small sums of money to keep his interactions with her a secret, she said.
Police said that on the day of the incident, the accused allegedly lured the minor and assaulted her. Distressed by the incident, the child later took her own life while her mother was away, police said.
"Based on technical surveillance, CCTV footage, and statements from the family, we established Zeeshan's involvement. He was arrested near the Mirganj weekly market on Tuesday," they said.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
