A horrifying case of child sexual assault in West Bengal’s Hooghly district has taken an unexpected and disturbing turn, as the victim’s grandfather — who initially filed the police complaint — was arrested on Sunday after confessing to the crime. The police said that during the course of the investigation, multiple inconsistencies emerged in the man’s statements, prompting investigators to question him in detail. Upon sustained interrogation, he admitted to having committed the assault.
The incident occurred on Friday night near the Tarakeswar railway station, where the victim’s family had been taking temporary shelter. According to the initial complaint, the family alleged that the child was taken from under her mosquito net, which had been slit open, and was then sexually assaulted before being found abandoned near the tracks.
Confirming the developments, Hooghly Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) Kamnashish Sen announced that a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) had been constituted to ensure a thorough and transparent investigation. “The most shocking revelation is that the complainant himself — the victim’s grandfather — has turned out to be the main accused,” Sen said. “He has been arrested and produced before the court.”
Since the Pocso court was closed on Sunday, the accused was presented before a magistrate and remanded to one day of judicial custody. He will be produced before the Pocso court on Monday, where the police plan to seek a seven-day custody for detailed interrogation. The SP said the investigation will proceed swiftly, with all forensic and procedural steps being closely monitored.
A forensic team has already visited the crime scene, collecting biological and material evidence, while medical examinations of the victim are being carried out under strict supervision. The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) has been informed and is conducting an independent inquiry into the case to ensure the child’s safety and welfare.
SP Sen added that the crime site falls under railway jurisdiction, making coordination between local and railway authorities crucial. “We have written to the Railway Police requesting enhanced security in and around the Tarakeswar railway area, especially near the ongoing Road Over Bridge construction,” he said. Additional police deployment and night patrols have also been ordered to prevent further incidents.
Earlier reports from the scene described the brutality of the assault. The girl was found naked, bleeding, and with visible bite marks on her cheek, lying near a drain close to the station. She was rushed to Tarakeswar Rural Hospital, where doctors provided first aid before referring her for further treatment. Witnesses said she remained in critical condition for several hours after being rescued.
The case sparked widespread outrage, with local residents and BJP leaders staging protests against what they alleged was gross negligence by both the hospital and the police. BJP’s Arambagh district secretary, Parna Adak, claimed the hospital failed to immediately alert law enforcement despite the severity of the child’s condition. Protesters accused officials of trying to downplay the incident until political pressure mounted.
Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari condemned the Mamata Banerjee-led government, calling her a “failed Chief Minister” who had “completely lost control over law and order.” Meanwhile, Tarakeswar MLA Ramendu Singha Roy described the episode as “deeply regrettable,” admitting that there appeared to be “a lapse in security” by the Railway Police, which oversees the area.
He clarified that although there was some initial confusion over the girl’s medical treatment, the administration later ensured she received all necessary care.
A case has been registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the SIT has been tasked with investigating not just the assault but also potential lapses in the initial police and medical response.
The shocking revelation that the accused was the child’s own grandfather has left the community stunned. The police have vowed to ensure the strictest possible punishment under Pocso and related penal provisions, describing the incident as one of the most disturbing cases in recent memory from the region.
