Kolkata minor alleges sexual assault, month-long blackmail in Behala
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
A minor schoolgirl in the Behala area of south Kolkata has alleged that she was sexually assaulted and subsequently blackmailed for over a month by a female classmate and an unidentified youth, police said on Saturday, 23 May. The complaint was lodged at Sarshuna police station after the girl, in a state of panic, disclosed the ordeal to her mother.
How the Alleged Assault Unfolded
According to police, the incident took place approximately a month before the complaint was filed. The victim was lured out after school by her female classmate, who arranged a car driven by an unidentified youth. The car was reportedly parked a short distance from the school, where the victim was allegedly drugged through a chocolate laced with substances and taken to a secluded location.
At that location, the unidentified youth allegedly sexually assaulted the girl while the female classmate recorded the act. Both the accused female classmate and the victim are minors, police confirmed.
Over a Month of Alleged Blackmail
Following the alleged assault, the victim was reportedly threatened continuously for over a month. The accused allegedly warned her that the recorded video would be circulated on social media if she revealed what had happened. The sustained intimidation kept the girl silent until she eventually broke down and informed her mother.
Police Response and Investigation
A formal complaint has been registered at Sarshuna police station in the southern outskirts of Kolkata. Police have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage from multiple locations, including areas around the school, to identify the car and trace the unidentified male accused. The female classmate, also a minor, is known to investigators, while the search for the main accused — the youth — is ongoing.
Background and Wider Context
The case comes amid growing concern over the safety of minors in urban school environments in West Bengal, particularly following high-profile cases in Kolkata in recent years. The use of recorded footage as a blackmail tool against minors has been flagged repeatedly by child rights bodies as an escalating threat. This case adds to a pattern of incidents where peer networks have allegedly been exploited to facilitate crimes against children.
Authorities have not yet made any arrests. As the investigation progresses, police are expected to invoke provisions under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, given that the victim is a minor.