BENGAL POLICE PROBE ALLEGED ABDUCTION AND GANG RAPE OF 13-YEAR-OLD AS FAMILY FACES EXTORTION THREATS

October 27, 2026

KOLKATA, OCTOBER 27, 2026: Police in West Bengal have launched an investigation after a woman alleged that her 13-year-old daughter was abducted, drugged and sexually assaulted by multiple people, who subsequently recorded the alleged crime and used the footage to threaten and blackmail the family. The complaint has prompted an investigation involving the Baguiati police and authorities in Hooghly district, where the assault was allegedly committed.

According to the complaint, the girl left her home in Baguiati on October 24 to meet a friend in Birati, in North 24-Parganas district. She was expected to return later that evening. When she had not arrived home by around 8.30 pm, her mother contacted her by telephone. The girl reportedly said she was in Barrackpore with her friend and would return by approximately 10 pm or 11 pm.

Concern grew when subsequent calls went unanswered. According to a police officer cited in the report, a man later contacted the mother from an unfamiliar telephone number, claiming that he had found the girl crying on the road and had allowed her to use his phone.

At approximately 12.06 am, the girl reportedly sent her mother a message saying that she was in danger. She allegedly indicated that her friend had taken her to the house of an acquaintance identified as Rik. Another man, identified in the complaint as Debajit Sarkar, subsequently contacted the family and assured the mother that her daughter was safe and would be brought home by car.

The girl returned home at around 10.30 am the following day, according to the police account. She subsequently told her mother that she had been taken to an acquaintance's premises and had become drowsy after consuming a cold drink allegedly mixed with sedatives. The complaint states that multiple people then sexually assaulted her while she was incapacitated. She was also allegedly forced to take a contraceptive pill.

The family further alleged that the assault had been recorded on video and that the footage was later sent to them as a means of intimidation. The accused allegedly demanded money and threatened the family, making them fearful of approaching the police. The mother's complaint names the girl's friend and several other individuals as alleged participants in the incident.

The family eventually approached Baguiati police on Tuesday, October 27. An officer confirmed that a complaint had been received and that an investigation was under way. The girl has been sent for a medical examination as part of the investigative process.

As of Tuesday, police had not reported any arrests or detentions in connection with the case. Investigators were working to verify the allegations, establish the sequence of events and identify the individuals allegedly involved. The precise circumstances surrounding the girl's movement between locations and the alleged use of sedatives are also matters for investigation.

The case raises serious concerns about child safety, the use of digital recordings to facilitate blackmail and the vulnerability of families subjected to threats following alleged sexual violence. Recording or circulating footage of an alleged assault can compound the harm inflicted on a victim, while threats intended to prevent a family from seeking police assistance can obstruct the pursuit of justice.

The identity and privacy of the minor must remain protected throughout the investigation. The allegations have not yet been established in court, and the individuals named in the complaint are entitled to due process. At the same time, the gravity of the allegations underscores the importance of a prompt, sensitive and thorough investigation, with appropriate medical, psychological and legal support for the child.

The investigation is continuing, and further action will depend on the evidence collected by the police.