A shocking incident unfolded in the eastern fringes of Kolkata on Thursday evening, resulting in a woman’s untimely demise. According to police, Rofiya Saquil, a 20-something resident of Narkeldanga, was brutally assassinated outside a well-known eatery. The brutal act of murder was allegedly executed by three perpetrators, one of whom was a minor, in full public view.
Witnesses reported that the victim and a man later identified as Mohammed Fahrukh Ansari entered the drive-thru of the dhaba around 8:30 PM. Minutes later, Saquil was pulled out of the vehicle and pursued by several individuals. She was chased into the crowded streets where she was fatally stabbed with a sharp object, likely a knife, several times.
“The murder appears to be a meticulously planned attack,” stated a police officer. “Ansari’s son was using a GPS tracker to follow the victim’s movements.” The suspects allegedly included Ansari’s minor son, his mother, and a 22-year-old man who was reportedly driving a separate vehicle in pursuit of them.
Emergency services rushed to the scene and attempted to save Saquil, but she succumbed to her injuries at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in the early hours of Friday morning after a prolonged surgical procedure failed due to excessive bleeding.
In the wake of this tragic event, residents and family members were stunned. “We had no idea she was involved in an extra-marital affair,” said an uncle to Press Trust of India (PTI). “She had gone to her parents’ home that night, and we had no clue who she was meeting.” The victim, Saquil, was reportedly married to another man.
Police Investigation and Arrests
The police swiftly launched a thorough investigation into the case. They managed to arrest the three suspects involved in the violent incident. However, the main figure of suspicion, Ansari, remains at large, complicating the ongoing probe.
Given the gravity of the situation, investigators will intensify their efforts to trace and apprehend Ansari and seek a stronger resolve to protect women and maintain law and order in Kolkata.
Political Reaction and Public Concerns
The incident has ignited a series of debates regarding the safety of women in West Bengal. Opposition parties have capitalized on the tragedy to question the effectiveness of the police force and security measures in the state.
“Failed Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) please react and resign!” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar stressed on his X handle. “In the middle of the night, a young woman was openly chased on the street and brutally attacked with a sharp weapon, yet the incompetent, sycophant Kolkata police under her leadership failed to take any immediate action.”
Referencing the recent RG Kar hospital rape and murder incident, Majumdar {corrected from Sukanta Majumdar} drew comparisons, saying, “Whether it is the restroom for female doctors in a government hospital or a crowded area in Kolkata, this state is gradually turning into a death trap for women. No matter how much the incompetent Chief Minister falsely claims that Kolkata is the safest city, the reality is that under her tenure, women in the state have suffered the most.”
Reacting to these accusations, a senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, pushed back, asserting that Kolkata’s law and order situation is “by far the best in the country.” “Before making statements, the BJP should first look at the law and order situation in states ruled by it. See what happened at the Maha Kumbh incident. The Kolkata episode is very unfortunate, but the police have arrested the culprits.”
Looking Forward
This incident reflects an alarming trend of violence against women in West Bengal, a state previously perceived as one of safety for its citizens. It underscores the urgent need for stronger security measures, stricter penalties for violent crimes, and preventive strategies to shield women from potential harm.
While the arrests of the three suspects provide a modicum of justice, it is imperative that authorities continue to enhance their response mechanisms and increase outreach to ensure that women feel secure and respected in their communities.
As the investigation proceeds, the victim’s brave family and friends are demanding justice and holding the perpetrators accountable.
It remains to be seen if this tragic incident will prove to be a catalyst for meaningful change in addressing the broader issue of women’s safety in West Bengal.
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