Mob fury erupted in Asansol’s Burnpur on Wednesday following the murder of a small girl. Morning walkers discovered seven-year-old Pushpa Thakur’s body in a drain not far from Burnpur Primary Girls’ School where she was a student of Class 2.
Her father Suresh Thakur said that Pushpa went to school on Tuesday where she appeared for the science examination. But she never returned home. When her mother went to bring her back, she could not find her. Her distraught parents and neighbours searched for her frantically the whole day but could not find her. Her family later lodged a missing complaint with the Hirapur police station. They spent a sleepless night.
As soon as the news of her body being found spread, hundreds of people assembled near the school. Emotions ran high and the mob went on a rampage inside the school premises, damaging furniture, light and fans. The bereaved family and the neighbours alleged that the little girl was murdered after sexually assaulted.
Later the family and local residents began a protest demonstration outside the school. When the police wanted to remove the girl’s body for post-mortem, they faced public resistance. The mob pelted stones on the police which again chased them away. The body was eventually sent for autopsy.
The wrath of the people did not subside. After the body was brought back to the Hirapur police station, the people again organised a protest demonstration. They also targeted some buses. Unable to control the mob, RAF was deployed. The angry mob was pacified after the police officer promised to arrest the culprit within 24 hours.
Expressing shock and anguish over the murder, principal of the school Chandana Dasgupta said that for the past one year, there was no guard at the entrance of the school. “We have urged the authorities umpteen times but in vain,” she said. The school is run by Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO).
“A girl who had gone missing yesterday was found murdered. The police had tried to search for her even making appeals to people through the microphones to inform about her whereabouts. We have sent the body for post mortem to ascertain whether she was sexually assaulted or not,” additional deputy commissioner of police (west) Subrata Ganguly said.