THE horrific incident of gang-rape and murder of a CPI(M) member in Kanthi has shaken the conscience of West Bengal. Thousands came into streets protesting the heinous crime, perpetrated by Trinamool activists in Sunia village of Kanthi in East Midnapore. East Midnapore is one of the worst terror affected districts in the state. For the last three years, a large part of the district has been virtually declared ‘proscribed’ for the CPI(M) and Left activists. Hundreds have been forced to leave their villages. Sunia in Kanthi sub-division is such an area where CPI(M) activists have been driven out. CPI(M) local committee member Boymkesh Giri, his son and brother have been forced out of the village. They run a risk of their lives, if they return. They have been living in a far-away place and Giri’s son could not even appear for Higher Secondary examinations this year. However, Giri’s wife, his old father and some other family members remained in their village house. Giri’s wife (name withheld) was an ICDS worker, living on a meager allowance. She was very popular for her work as anganwadi worker. She was a member of the CPI(M), an active worker of the AIDWA. She was being threatened for quite some time now to bring back her husband to village. Since it was of an obvious invitation to death, she refused to oblige. For the last few days, the TMC hoodlums pressured her to give Rs 12 lakhs as ‘fine’. She pleaded with them that she had no money to pay such a hefty amount. On August 15, while the nation was celebrating Independence Day, TMC workers thrashed her for money. As the situation went beyond tolerance levels, she wanted to flee from the village too. But she was caught and was severely beaten up. She was stripped of her clothes and made to parade naked. That did not end the harassment. On August 17, TMC workers entered her house at night. From all evidences and eye witness reports, it was clear that she was gang-raped and then murdered. Her body was hanged. In the early morning, relatives and neighbours found her hanging though her feet were still touching ground, indicating it was a murder. The police was informed. There were outbursts of anger from the villagers. But the police, in connivance with the TMC leaders, forced the victim’s brother-in- law and his wife to report the incident as a ‘suicide’. However, the ploy of the police did not materialise for long. The family registered a case of rape and murder in Kanthi police station. The victim’s husband reached the Kanthi police station and said that the police was informed about the harassment earlier, but no action was taken. The victim’s family named the culprits too, all of whom are TMC workers. CPI(M) leaders went to the police station; roads were blocked with the dead body. The police was forced to register a case of murder. But, in yet another indication of inhuman administration, the family members were not allowed to take the body to village. On August 19, the police administration tried to interpret the incident as a ‘suicide’ and arrested three TMC workers with the charge of abetment to suicide. The nexus between the culprits and police is brazen. The AIDWA and the CPI(M) leaders visited the house of the victim on August 19 itself. They tried to console the family members. They were reported of the torture by the villagers. Meanwhile, the TMC workers cut roads to Sunia so that the leaders cannot visit the village. CPI(M) state secretary Biman Basu condemned the incident and called for statewide protest. In East Midnapore, roads were blocked at a number of places. AIDWA organised road blockades in Kolkata. Thousands of people came out onto the streets in all districts and organised rallies.