Prime accused of Kolkata's Burtolla minor rape case arrested

A man was arrested in West Bengal's Jhargram district for allegedly raping a seven-month-old toddler in Kolkata last month, police said. He has been identified as Rajib Ghosh (34).

The incident came to light on November 30 when the residents heard the sound of a baby crying on the footpath in the Burtolla area of north Kolkata and alerted authorities, police sources said. Police rushed to the spot and found the infant near a residential area at 1:45 am, they added.

Shortly after, two footpath dwellers reported their seven-month-old daughter missing at a nearby police station. After identifying their daughter, the infant was taken to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for examination.

Doctors reported injuries to the infant's private parts and other body parts. Police confirmed the child was examined by the gynaecology department around 3 am, where evidence of sexual assault was found.

"Initial investigation revealed that the baby was picked up from the footpath, and taken somewhere and raped. It could be the work of some vagabonds. After the crime was committed, she was dropped again. We are checking the CCTV footage and also talking to the people of the area," a police official said.

The Burtolla Police Station registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and other applicable sections based on the mother's complaint. "We registered a case and an investigation is underway," Deputy Commissioner of Police, North Kolkata, Dipak Sarkar, said. The accused will be produced before a court on Thursday.