ProMASS News Bureau: Aug 21, 2016: After the report of mysterious death of Uma Das published in our website and in an electronic channel, Women Police of West Thana, Agartala seems to wake up from slumber. Sources informed, coming under pressure, Police has arrested the accused today. However, neighbours of Uma are suspicious about fair investigation and henceforth trial.
Earlier , at a time when people of Tripura were cheering up for Olympian gymnast Dipa Karmakar to boost up her bagging medal from from Rio, hardly anyone could find a very common mother crying for justice for her little girl child who had been rapped and later committed suicide on August 2. The mother’s crying and the girl Uma’s curse have still remained unheard due to utter public clamour for medal.
Police allegedly refused to accept FIR against the mysterious death of Uma Das (14), who was living with her brother and mentally sick mother in their house at Ramnagar under ward No. 33 of Agartala Municipal Corporation. Locals said, they came to know of the incident of rape after her death, may be suicide or something else. They had no suspicion of anyone but whispering came out around one Indrajit Das, who was known to be her nephew, though much older than her. It was alleged that Indrajit had been sexually abused her in absence of Uma’s brother at home.
The helpless Uma, unable to bear the torture, disclosed the tale of torture to her private tutor, namely Sutapa Roy who had contemplated to intervene and save her but failed. As and when tutor Roy turned up at her student’s home it was too late as Uma had already met a controversial death. Uma’s brother, neighbours including Sutapa alleged that the girl was killed. Uma’s brother repeatedly moved the Women Police under West Agartala police station to lodge a complain against Indrajit Das but refused every time, said locals.
Statistics show that scores of girls in the country are facing similar fate despite stringent laws and better conviction rate. “Enacting stringent laws is not sufficient. The problem is deep rooted. Actually rampant consumerism and cultural degradation are destroying family life and subsequently affecting the society”, said one Ratna Rabi Das referring to the case. She further said, Uma’s death and alleged ineffective and apathetic attitude of police are sordid example to gradual and unabated demoralization.
Uma’s brother and neighbours alleged no proper investigation has been initiated so far by Women Police (Agartala West) as police refused to accept complaint. Will State Women Commission and similar organizations come forward and help deliver justice to a poor mother? Such a question has crept in minds of people living around the locality. It is learnt that victim’s family is yet to approach Women Commission with a hope that the police will give justice and culprit will be booked.