A 13-year-old schoolgirl was allegedly abducted, drugged, and gang-raped at a hotel in Bandel, Hooghly district, after being lured away from North 24 Parganas, police said on Tuesday, 27 October 2026. The accused reportedly filmed the assault and sent the video to the victim's family as a tool of blackmail and intimidation, demanding ransom and threatening them against approaching authorities.

How the Incident Unfolded

According to the police complaint, the minor — a resident of the Baguihati area of Kolkata — left home at around 3:30 PM on Saturday, 24 October, to meet a friend in Birati, North 24 Parganas. She was allegedly abducted from Birati and transported to a hotel in Bandel, where she was reportedly forced to consume a cold drink spiked with a narcotic substance before multiple individuals sexually assaulted her.

When the girl did not return by evening, her mother began calling her around 8:30 PM. The victim initially responded, saying she was in Barrackpore with a friend and would return by 11:00 PM. Subsequent calls went unanswered.

Late-Night Messages and a Distressing Return

Later that night, the mother received a call from an unknown number. A male caller claimed he had found the girl crying on the street, brought her to his location, and allowed her to use his phone before abruptly disconnecting. At 12:06 AM on Sunday, 25 October, the minor sent a text message to her mother stating she was in danger and that a friend had taken her to the house of a person identified only as 'Rik'.

Shortly after, an individual identified as Debjit Sarkar telephoned the mother, assuring her that her daughter was safe and would be brought home by car. The victim returned to her residence at approximately 10:30 AM on Sunday in an extremely distressed state.

Upon questioning by her family, the minor disclosed that she had been taken to an acquaintance's house, drugged until she lost consciousness, physically tortured and sexually assaulted by multiple individuals, and forcibly administered emergency contraceptive pills.

Blackmail and the FIR

The ordeal escalated further when the accused filmed the assault and subsequently contacted the mother, sending the recorded clip to extort money and deter the family from filing a complaint. The family, however, approached the Baguiati Police Station in Kolkata on Tuesday, 27 October, lodging a formal complaint.

The mother named several individuals as accused in the complaint, including a female friend of her daughter. The police have registered a case under sections covering abduction, gang rape, extortion, and provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Investigation Underway, No Arrests Yet

As of the time of filing this report, no arrests or detentions had been made. Police operations are currently underway to trace and apprehend all individuals named in the complaint. This case emerges amid continuing concern over child safety and abuse of minors in West Bengal, where POCSO cases have drawn repeated scrutiny from courts and child rights bodies. The outcome of the investigation and any subsequent arrests are expected to be closely watched.