Congress demands resignation of West Bengal CM over killing of teenager

The Congress today demanded the resignation of West Bengal chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee over the brutal killing of a teenager by a gang of drunken youths, while ruling coalition partners Forward Bloc and RSP slammed police for their alleged negligence.

"The incident is a reflection of the deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal. Crime against women in the state is rising. The chief minister must resign owning moral responsibility," state Congress president Manas Bhuniya said.

Bhuniya said the district magistrate and the superintendent of police should also be "sacked for this shocking incident."

16-year-old Rajib Das was brutally killed by a gang of drunken youths, who tried to molest his sister near Barasat town here on the night of February 14.

Rajib, who was due to appear in this year's Madhyamik Examination (secondary examination), was stabbed, kicked and repeatedly punched to death for resisting the gang who were trying to molest his sister near the district magistrate's bungalow at Barasat.

Ashok Ghosh, state general secretary of the Forward Bloc, said it was an unfortunate incident and blamed the police for "inaction".

He said that it was surprising that though the 16-year-old boy's sister kept screaming for help no one came to their aid although the district magistrate's office was nearby.

The incident has triggered a massive public outcry and protests in various places of the town and in Kolkata, which forced the West Bengal government to ask the CID to probe the killing.

Manoj Bhattacharjee, central committee member of RSP, said, "We are surprised that the security persons deployed in and around the DM bungalow were so insensitive that they did not act despite desperate being approached by girl for help.

Ruling Left Front chairman Biman Bose said the culprits should be punished.