Justice should be visible: Cardinal on Bengal nun's gang rape

A top Catholic functionary arrived in West Bengal’s Ranaghat to express solidarity with the nun of a convent school, who was allegedly gang-raped on Saturday.

Soon after his arrival, President of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India Baselios Cardinal Cleemis went to the convent to meet the other nuns to give them moral support. “I would like to assure our sisters that the whole church in India is with them. We would like to see that justice is brought to the people affected,” he said

“We request the authorities to ensure that justice is done; it is visible. The whole Catholic church's fervour will continue, we won't be stopped by such violations. We thank the public of the country who are showing sympathy for us,” he said. “We are also here to personally verify what has happened. Such inhuman acts should be stopped.”

The cardinal is scheduled to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday evening. “We request the CM to make a fast approach and see that justice is brought to us at the earliest,” he said talking to reporters.  

The cardinal will meet the septuagenarian nun at the Ranghat sub-divisional hospital.

Meanwhile, no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. Fifteen persons have so far been detained, Nadia district superintendent of police Arnab Ghosh said. A police team has been sent outside the state in connection with the investigation.

The CCTV footage at the convent had shown four persons who were allegedly involved in the crime. The superintendent of police had announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh to any individual providing information leading to the arrest of the accused.

Hospital superintendent A K Mondol had said on Tuesday that a medical board has been formed for her treatment and she is being given counselling. Her spiritual counselling by a Christian missionary from Rome is also on, he said.

Banerjee visited the nun on Monday.

The 71-year-old nun was allegedly gang-raped by dacoits at Gangnapur in the early hours on Saturday after which a CID probe was ordered into the incident.

Image: President of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India Baselios Cardinal Cleemis visits West Bengal

With inputs from PTI