The Kushmandi police in South Dinajpur on Monday night arrested another man in connection with the Hatpara case, where a mentally challenged tribal woman was allegedly ‘gang-raped.’ The two accused were produced in the Gangarampur sub-divisional court on Tuesday and sent in 11 days’ police custody.

Meanwhile, chief minister Mamata Banerjee visited the Malda Medical College Hospital and visited the victim admitted there. The victim had undergone surgery last evening and is still in a critical condition, according to doctors. The CM met the doctors and said the victim should be treated there until she gets fully alright, it is learnt.

According to administrative sources, the CM also decided to lend financial help to the woman and directed the district magistrate of South Dinajpur to build a house for her. According to police sources in South Dinajpur, several political parties and tribal organizations have demanded proper police action and exemplary punishment for the accused.

“The accused, Andharu Barman, 52, who was caught yesterday, is a resident of Naogan village under the Itahar police station area of North Dinajpur. Ramprabash Sharma, another accused who hails from Hatjora village in Dehabandh in the district was held on Sunday,” police sources said.

Meanwhile, BJP supporters on Tuesday staged a demonstration in front of the Kushmandi police station, demanding strict punishment for the miscreants. The RSP also served a memorandum to the Additional Superintendent of Police, Gangarampur Sub Division, in the Kushmandi police station on Tuesday, sources said.

The tribal woman was found unconscious near the Srimati river embankment on Sunday evening. After being informed by villagers, the police rushed to the spot and sent the girl to the Kushmandi rural hospital for treatment. However, neither Kushmandi hospital nor Raiganj hospital could provide her proper treatment, and she was subsequently sent to the Malda Medical College and Hospital.

On Tuesday, several political parties and social organizations in South Dinajpur staged demonstrations and demanded the arrest of the remaining accused. Cheni Hembram, a resident of Hatpara, village said, “We know her as Pagli. She lives alone and has no relatives. We offer her food whenever she is hungry. She never leaves the village.

On Saturday night, she was with us in the temple. She also ate dinner with us. She went missing after the dinner. We suspect that she might have been raped by a group of miscreants.” South Dinajpur Superintendent of Police, Prasun Banerjee, said, “Kushmandi police have started investigations and we have arrested two. Investigations are on.”