Hooghly Horror: Grandfather arrested for raping 4-year-old girl near Tarakeswar station

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The grandfather of a four-year-old girl has been identified as the prime accused in the rape of the minor in West Bengal’s Hooghly district. Police confirmed that the man was arrested on Sunday.

According to a News18 report, the incident took place on Friday near Tarakeswar railway station, where the child’s family had been taking shelter. Officials said the girl was resting beside her parents when she was allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted.

The report said that the victim’s family belongs to the nomadic Banjara community and reportedly lacks official identification documents, which initially made the investigation more challenging. After the assault, the family approached the Tarakeswar police station upon discovering a cut on the girl’s throat. She was taken to a hospital for a medical examination, although reports suggest that the police did not initially accompany them.

During the medical check-up, doctors found signs of sexual assault. Police subsequently launched an inquiry into the incident. However, investigators said the family fled the hospital in panic soon after the discovery, returning later for further formalities. Once they returned, officers registered a case and began a full investigation.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the local police of negligence, alleging they failed to act promptly on the family’s complaint.

Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, sharply criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, calling her a “failed Chief Minister” over the Tarakeswar rape case.

In a post on X, Adhikari alleged that the police attempted to “bury the crime” to protect the government’s image, saying the case highlighted a “collapse of law and order” under Banerjee’s leadership.

BJP workers staged a protest late on Friday night, demanding swift justice for the victim and accountability for the lapses in police action. The investigation is continuing under tight security.