Kolkata, July 19, 2020: Bengal’s National Highway 31, which connects state capita Kolkata to Siliguri, turned into a battlefield on July 19 after locals blocked the road to protest the alleged gangrape and murder of a school girl.
The protest took place at Chopra, around 500 km north of Kolkata. For almost two hours the police tried to disperse the protesters but were met with fierce resistance, forcing the cops to fire tear gas and use batons.
The violence, which began at around 2 pm, lasted for several hours and at least three buses and police vehicles were torched.
The protesters then moved on to another arterial road and began attacking cops with bows and arrows.
According to the sister of the girl who was killed, she had just passed tenth grade board exam. Her family launched a search party after she went missing July 18 night and spotted her body under a tree.
Locals have alleged she was gangraped and murdered. Two bicycles and some mobile phones found at the scene have been handed over to the police.
Protests broke out soon after the girl’s body was found.
The situation is now under control, say local police, and an investigation has been launched into the death of the girl.
Source: ndtv.com