Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday visited Ranghat sub division in the Nadia district where a senior nun was allegedly gang-raped by some unidentified armed dacoits in the wee hours of Saturday.
She said "strongest action" will be taken against the perpetrators.
"No matter where the culprits are, strongest action will be taken against them. We are fully committed to that (action against the culprits)," she told reporters at the state secretariat 'Nabanna'.
"We have sent our team for investigation with all necessary equipment and will catch the culprits soon," she said.
"People who commit such crimes are not humans... Our sentiments are with the victim, who is like our mother. The culprits are a disgrace to the society," she said.
Stating that "high attention" has been given to the "very sensitive" issue, Banerjee said, "We have condemned this incident in the very beginning."
Meanwhile, Banerjee's convoy was blocked at Ranaghat by angry protestors who demand justice for the nun who was allegedly gang-raped.
On the other hand, extensive searches were today on to trace those behind the alleged gangrape of the senior nun. A total 10 persons were detained in connection with the incident.
The West Bengal authorities have widened their probe into the case and carried out extensive searches today to trace those, who allegedly gang-raped a 72-year-old nun in a convent school in the Ranaghat sub-division.
Though the police have detained at least ten persons so far in this connection, it is still unsure about the real offenders.
These people were arrested by the police on the basis of CCTV footage of four dacoits who allegedly sexually assaulted the nun. Those arrested are believed to have broken into the Convent of Jesus and Mary, gagged the lone security guard on duty and then sexually assaulted the nun around 4 am on Saturday, the police later said.
Meanwhile, Christian groups led by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Calcutta would take out a protest rally today to express solidarity with the senior nun who was gang-aped at convent school in Nadia district.
According to Archbishop of Kolkata Thomas D'Souza, the rally will begin from Allen Park in Park Street to show solidarity and sympathy to the victims of the attack.
"We want to create awareness in the society on the importance of non-violence and respect for women," he said earlier.
They have given a call to people from all backgrounds to participate in the rally.
The Sister Superior of the convent school in Ranaghat sub-division was brutalised in the wee hours of Saturday by some armed dacoits who decamped with Rs 12 lakh.
Sunita Kumar, spokesperson of The Missionaries of Charity, expressed shock at the incident wondering why would anyone attack the nuns.
"I do not understand why they did this heinous crime of attacking the nun. I hope the police will catch them," she said.
The ruling TMC, which had earlier given notice in Rajya Sabha, raised the nun gang-rape issue calling it an ''unfortunate incident'' and demanded stringent punishment for the culprits .
TMC leader Derek O' Brien took to twitter to inform about the party's stand on the issue.
Given notice in RS to raise the unfortunate incident of the alleged rape of a 72 year old nun in #Ranaghat. Such issues are beyond politics
— Derek O'Brien (@quizderek) March 16, 2015
(With Agency Inputs)
