A father who stood up to three men who allegedly molested his teenage daughter died hours after being physically tortured by the perpetrators, police said.
Police officers of the Howrah (rural) area, where the incident happened on Monday, said there were “blunt” injury marks all over the body of the 35-year-old man, who was first taken to a primary health centre in Howrah and then to a sub-divisional hospital.
He died at the sub-divisional hospital.
The police said the girl’s family had lodged a complaint naming three men. One of them has been arrested.
An officer of the Howrah police said the 15-year-old girl was allegedly molested while she was returning home from tuition.
After she returned home and confided in her parents, her family lodged a complaint with the local police station against three men.
The girl’s father then went to the spot where his daughter was allegedly molested to confront the men. He was allegedly beaten up by the men.
The father returned home in an injured condition, following which he was taken to a primary health centre near his house.
Later on Monday night, he started feeling unwell and was taken to a sub-divisional hospital, where he died.
The Telegraph contacted the family of the deceased over the phone. But the family member refused to speak.
“We are not in a position to speak,” said the family member.
“One person has been arrested in connection with the case. Initially, charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, wrongful restraint and an attempt to culpable homicide not amounting to murder were slapped on the accused persons. However, after the death of the girl’s father, the charge of murder has been added,” said superintendent of police, Howrah rural, Swati Bhangalia.
The police said the accused named in the complaint include two brothers. All three named in the complaint are known to the teenager’s family.
A senior officer of the Howrah police said on Tuesday evening that they were waiting for the post-mortem report to ascertain the cause of the death.
