Governor sanctions relief to rape victim

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 23: Ms Runu Roy (Das), a victim of gang rape and resident of Chheramari village under Ghoksadanga police station got a relief of Rs 50,000 today. Deputy magistrate and deputy collector, Mr Narayan Chnadra Biswas handed over the sum to the woman in presence of her lawyer Mr Shibendra Nath Roy. The Governor sanctioned the relief following her appeal to him, Mr Roy said.

 

Recalling the incident Mr Roy said that six miscreants including a CPI-M leader Samiruddin Mian alias Kelsa sneaked into the housewife's room on the night of 22 February 2003 in absence of her husband and forcefully raped her. The incident had rocked the whole state. On 22 March 2005 the Additional District and Sessions Judge of Cooch Behar convicted the accused six and sentenced them with ten-years rigorous imprisonment and also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 to each of the six. On 29 March of this year a division bench of the High Court too maintained the order passed by the lower court, Mr Roy said.

 

As the incident created tremor in the political scenario in this state, the authorities had offered a job to the victim as an Anganwadi worker under social welfare department. She accepted the job for survival, Mr Roy said. Meanwhile she made an appeal to the state Governor for some relief. In his letter to the Accountant General (A&E), the joint commissioner for reservation and ex-officio joint secretary Mr M Pandit stated that the Governor sanctioned Rs 50,000 to Ms Runu Roy (Das) who belongs to Scheduled Caste (Rajbanshi) Community as relief for the offence committed on her.

 

Receiving the compensation the victim Ms Roy expressed her satisfaction and thanked the Governor for his generosity. The money may help her to lead a healthy life in the society, her layer Mr Roy opined.  []

Altaf Mian busy in making Raas Chakra

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 23: Md Altaf Mian of Harinchawra near Cooch Behar town is now very busy in making the Raas Chakra at the courtyard of his cottage. His wife and daughter are also helping him to complete the work. He will have to complete it by tomorrow for the Raas Yatra. He is doing this annual job for the last 28 years. It is his hereditary duty.

 

Landless Md Altaf Mian had to work as a daily wage labourer till his appointment as a night watchman at Keshav Ashram. The Debottar Trust Board appointed him a few months back against Rs 1000 per month. After much persuasion the DTB added Rs 500 two months ago.

 

Before the Raas Yatra Altaf has to engage himself in making the Raas Chakra. Last year the Debottar Trust Board paid him Rs 5,000 only for this particular job. This year he appealed for a hike because he has to buy bamboos, paints, coloured papers, glue and other materials for making the Raas Chakra. The poverty stricken man failed to marry off his daughter. In earlier years his son used to help him in making the Raas Chakra but for the past few years he is keeping himself away from the work. It is not clear whether he will take up the hereditary job in future.

 

The devoted man said that he appealed to the authorities on several occasions to give him a permanent job and a plot of land to survive but no one paid any heed to his requests. After fruitless appeals for years the Debottar Trust Board offered him the job of watchman. He still resides on the bank of Torsa and the river is approaching rapidly to grab their homestead. But, "I will have to continue to do this job as did my father and grandfather", he said.

 

The 22-feet high, six-angled Raas Chakra, and a look-alike of Muharram Tazia, is the main attraction of the fortnight-long Raas Mela for devotees and all other visitors. It is decorated with ornamental paper cuts and pictures of mythological Gods and Goddesses. The Raas Yatra is inaugurated by whirling the Raas Chakra. It reminds visitors of the Buddhist sacred prayer wheels. Every devotee and visitor at the Madan Mohan temple is supposed to rotate it at least one-round as homage to the Lord Madan Mohan.

 

The making of the Raas Chakra by a Muslim family for a Hindu festival is considered by many as a perfect example of communal harmony and religious co-existence. More significantly, it embodies an act of love among three religions - Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. []