"I Spent The Entire Night Crying": RG Kar Victim’s Mother Reacts To Baruipur Girl’s Murder, Demands Swift Justice
Ratna Debnath, mother of the RG Kar rape and murder victim and BJP MLA from Panihati, has expressed deep anguish over the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in West Bengal's Baruipur, saying the tragedy brought back painful memories of her own loss and calling for immediate justice.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Debnath said the incident left her emotionally shaken. "It is very sad, even more so for me. I spent the entire night crying because another set of parents had to endure the same fate," she said.
Debnath alleged that successive governments in West Bengal had failed to address the root causes of rising crimes against women. She claimed that policies over the years had encouraged gambling and alcohol consumption among youth instead of strengthening education and healthcare, adding that the consequences were now becoming evident.
While demanding the harshest punishment for those responsible, she also criticised the lynching of the prime suspect by an angry mob. "After the RG Kar incident, people have become so angry that they did not spare him. They may have feared that if they handed him over, he might escape or something else might happen. That is why he was killed. But this is not desirable," she said, stressing that justice should be delivered through the legal system.
Debnath also rejected allegations linking a local BJP leader to the case and claimed that several workers from the Trinamool Congress had begun identifying themselves as BJP supporters following the recent political developments in the state.
Commenting on the political controversy surrounding the case, she defended the police decision to stop former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from visiting the victim's family. "The police did the right thing by stopping her. What would she have achieved by going there? She would probably have offered compensation to the victim's family and protected the accused, as she has done for years," Debnath alleged.
Drawing parallels with the RG Kar case, she questioned the delay in securing justice for her own daughter and accused the previous administration of shielding those responsible. "In my daughter's case too, why was justice delayed? Why were the accused protected? Why was taxpayers' money spent to defend a few civic volunteers? People no longer believe such actions. Those responsible must be punished," she said.
The Baruipur case has sparked widespread outrage across West Bengal. Police have arrested four people in connection with the incident, while one of the suspects died after being allegedly assaulted by an angry crowd. The investigation into the case is continuing as authorities face mounting pressure to ensure swift action.
