Hanshkhali Gang Rape: Priest Refused To Turn Up To Perform Last Rituals Of Victim Girl

The last rituals after death of the victim girl held late in the afternoon

Hanshkhali (Nadia), April 14: Trauma continues for the bereaved parents of the gangrape victim minor girl in Nadia’s Hanshkhali on Thursday amid their endeavor to seek justice as they found it tough to perform the last rituals of their daughter since the priest who was assigned the job had refused to turn up citing uncertainty about time and nature of death despite assuring them for the job.

Many other priests in the area also refused to turn up citing the same reason which the couple claimed allegedly done under pressure from politically influential persons in the locality.

While several organizations met the bereaved couple at their home assuring them cooperation in their fight for justice, they literally ran from pillar to post to arrange a priest who can perform the scheduled last rituals known as “Shraddha“.

The coveted ritual, was, however, performed late in the afternoon only after local CPM leadership arranged a priest who summarily completed the job on the courtyard a little before the CBI team arrived.

Apart from CPM activists ISF leader and Bhangar MLA Mohammed Nawsad Siddique were present during the last rituals, who paid “Dakshina” to priest Ashok Banerjee on behalf of the family.

A visibly relieved father of the victim said, “I lost all hope … I didn’t expect to face such trouble for the last rituals. The priest despite assuring me refused to turn up as I guess he was threatened by people who are involved behind my daughter’s torture and her tragic death”.

“I am indebted to those who arranged the priest and helped me to overcome the obligatory rituals”, the bereaved father said breaking down with tears.

The victim girl’s family member on April 5 made contact with a local priest for the performance of the rituals. After initial talks, the priest agreed to do the job. But on Wednesday night he informed me about his inability to do the job.

“The priest just informed my elder brother about his inability to attend our home only to avoid any controversy. We requested him with folded hands but he remained adamant about putting us in big trouble. We tried for his alternative but none agreed to help us assign different reasons. But it appeared that they are afraid of the reaction of politically influential persons”, he said.

However, priest Biswanath Chakraborty, 85, refuted the allegation of any pressure from influential persons. “The family members told me that the girl died due to illness. But it was a lie. I came to know about the alleged reason behind death later. But the death has no record and the parents couldn’t tell the time and date of death so that I can do the job appropriately”, the elderly priest said.

“Moreover it is a controversial case under investigation. So for obvious reasons, I didn’t want to get myself involved with any such issue at his age”, the priest added.

Priest Ashok Banerjee, a CPM activist, who eventually performed the job also acknowledged unknown “fear” but agreed to perform the job only because of the party’s direction. “I was reluctant for various reasons. But it was a call for conscience inspired by my party that led me to do the job. I didn’t seek any Dakshina but some people paid it as per their wish”, he added.

Nilendu Roy, CPM’s teacher’s wing ABTA Hanskhali committee secretary said, “We came to visit the parents and came to know that a priest refused to perform last rituals apparently under pressure. Then our organization member Bishnu Biswas arranged a priest”.

Lawyer Sabyasachi Chatterjee, secretary of Save Democracy, a social organization fighting injustice said, “This incident of refusal by the priest amply proves how people in Bengal living under threat having no liberty even to do the job as per their wish”. “I hope that CBI would help people to get rid of such threat booking the culprits”, he added.

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