In a first, video testimony from Bangladesh convicts Bengal rapist

KOLKATA/RANAGHAT: A Ranaghat court sentenced a sexual assault accused to seven years in prison based primarily on the testimony of the survivor, a young woman now residing in Bangladesh. She testified in court through video conferencing from her residence between Mar and May earlier this year.
"For the first time in a POCSO case in south Bengal, the victim and her mother gave their deposition through video conferencing from Bangladesh, which led to the accused being sentenced by the court," said a senior officer at Bhawani Bhawan.
According to police, the victim was a minor when she visited her relative in the Habibpur area of Nadia in June 2020. On June 19 that year, she was alone at home—her mother was on an errand—when she was sexually assaulted in the evening.
The survivor's mother filed a complaint against the main accused, Sukumar Biswas, at the Ranaghat Women's Police Station the next day. That same day, the investigating officer, Sub-Inspector Rupali Banerjee, arrested Sukumar under the POCSO Act. The charge sheet was submitted within the stipulated time.
Everything proceeded according to protocol until the trial was about to begin. It was discovered that the girl, who just reached adulthood, married and moved to Bangladesh, accompanied by her mother. Their current address was unknown to everyone. "How would they testify? On what basis would the prosecution present the case in court? Consequently, the trial was postponed for several days," said ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar.
To resolve the issue, SP (Nadia) Kumar Sunny Raj decided to step in earlier this year. After extensive efforts with the respective high commissioners and relentless investigation, he managed to establish contact with the girl's family with the help of a police officer of the rank of an SP in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh police also promised to help.
Simultaneously, coordination with the additional district judge of Ranaghat continued to facilitate testimony through video conferencing from the girl and her mother.
"Finally, the efforts were successful, marking the first instance of testimony via video conferencing in the Ranaghat court, the recording taking place sometime in April and May. Without this testimony, the trial process would have remained incomplete. In the verdict announced on Tuesday, the court sentenced Sukumar to seven years in prison after holding him guilty under section 10 of the POCSO Act. Additionally, by allowing testimony via video from abroad, a new precedent was set," said Sarkar.
SP Raj on Thursday awarded an appreciation letter to lady Sub-Inspector Kajol Chakraborty for her role as the IO in this case, which resulted in the conviction of the accused.
"She not only worked on the evidence itself and in following up the case but also lent support to the victim and her family present in Bangladesh. Her contribution in facilitating the victim's deposition through video conferencing is highly appreciated," said SP Raj.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)