Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das has launched a fierce attack on the coalition government following the brutal gangrape of a tribal minor girl in Sundarpahari, located in Barhet. The incident has sparked outrage across the state, once again raising questions on the deteriorating law and order situation, especially with regard to crimes against women, he said.
Calling it a “shameful and heartbreaking” event, Das expressed deep anguish and questioned the government. “It is unfortunate that under a tribal Chief Minister, tribal daughters are the most unsafe. This is not the first case. Crimes against women have increased alarmingly across the state, while the government remains a mute spectator,” Das said.
Raghubar Das also raised serious concerns over alleged attempts to suppress the incident. “On whose behest was there an attempt to bury this heinous crime?” he asked, pointing fingers at systemic failures and demanding accountability from the top.
Drawing parallels with recent violent incidents in other districts, Das referred to the attempted rape of a tribal woman in Lalpania, Bokaro — foiled by villagers — and the brutal murder of Rubika Pahadia in Sahibganj. He added that cases of rape and murder have become disturbingly common in Simdega, Gumla, Godda, Khunti, and even in the state capital Ranchi.
In a strong demand to the government, the former Chief Minister urged that such sensitive cases be fast-tracked and the culprits handed the harshest punishment. He further demanded that the victim in the Barhet case be given immediate compensation of ₹4 lakh under Section 357A of the CrPC and the Jharkhand Victim Assistance Scheme, 2012.
“Women are the strength of society, the state, and the nation. If they are not safe, the entire system has failed,” Das declared.
