(From Avi Das)
THE SUPPOSED "LYNCHING OF CHILD-LIFTERS": THE TALE OF ANITA DEWAN
On this day, 31st of May, 1990, a piece of news broke in Calcutta. Two women had been lynched by a mob who suspected that they were child-lifters. This story was planted by the Govt in the local media and was carried by them. People believed in the tale. Such things happen. Until...deeper, darker tales started emerging.
A team of three health officers were returning to Kolkata after inspecting an immunization program in Gosaba. The team consisted of Anita Dewan, the Deputy District Extension Media Officer of the West Bengal Health Department; Uma Ghosh, a senior officer of the Health Department; and Renu Ghosh, a representative of UNICEF's World Health Organization office in New Delhi.
Around 6:30 pm when they had reached Bantala, near the Eastern metropolitan bypass (which used to be a very deserted area in those days), a group of 4-5 youths stopped their car near the CPI(M) party office. The driver Abani Naia made an attempt to escape, but he lost control and the car overturned. In the meantime, another gang of 10-12 youths arrived at the spot, who pulled one of the ladies out of the car, while the others pulled out the other two ladies. The driver of the car tried to resist the youths but failed.
The attackers killed the driver and set the car on fire. The lady officers were then taken to a nearby paddy field and raped. One of the ladies, who tried to resist the rapists was killed.
The police brought the naked bodies of the ladies to the emergency department of Calcutta National Medical College at around 11:30 pm. Initially, they were presumed to be dead, but later two of them was found to be alive and were admitted for treatment. One lady doctor who examined the dead woman fainted when she discovered a metallic battery-operated torch had been inserted in the vagina of the officer.
The driver, who was presumed to be dead, but was found alive, was transferred to SSKM Hospital for treatment. He bore 43 wounds in his body caused by blunt, sharp and heavy weapons. His penis was smashed by the attackers. On 4 June 1990 at 5:40 am, he died.
Prasanta Sur, the then Health Minister of West Bengal, tried to continue to defend the mob by propelling 'lynching of child-abductors' story. However, he had to retract as the actual news started coming out.
The then Chief Minister Mr Jyoti Basu, when he heard about the incident, casually remarked ”‘Such incidents do happen, don’t they? Mistakes do occur…” and tried to dismiss the tale.
Mr D. Bandyopadhyay, ex-director of Asian Development Bank, had observed "Ms Anita Dewan, an officer of the UNICEF, detected a huge fraud involving UNICEF funds in some CPI-M-controlled panchayats in South 24-Parganas. When she was returning with some seized incriminating documents, her vehicle was waylaid at Bantala..."
Anita Dewan had, in reality, gone to investigate and expose the misappropriation of funds given by UNICEF by CPI cadres. That couldn't be allowed.
Reportedly, her son committed suicide, traumatised by the deed.
- Nirbhaya had precedents long before Nirbhaya happened
- The 'lynching' of Sadhus had precedents long before it happened
- The muzzling and 'management' of the press in Bengal has precedence much before you became aware off
Jyoti Basu is not supposed to have lost any sleep over what transpired. After all, instructions had come from the top. An investigation was done. 6 people were arrested. The Govt said the 6 arrested belonged to the opposition party.
Remember to ask the Left of these tales, when they try and raise holy hullabaloo about 'Fascism!'
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