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Bengal MLAs lampoon Mamata as rape charge is disproved

Mamata Banerjee's allegation that a Trinamul Congress candidate for the panchayat elections was raped by activists of the ruling Left Front, has been proved false by the Central Forensic Laboratory, Hyderabad.

The issue had rocked West Bengal before the panchayat election, and is likely to have had a bearing on the poll in three assembly segments.

Front members have threatened to move the court against the Trinamul Congress for levelling a false allegation for political mileage, and demanded the home minister to place the findings of the forensic experts in the state assembly.

The experts said the DNA test of blood smear has proved that the alleged victim was not raped at all. Banerjee had repeatedly accused the Front activists of violating the victim's person. Union Defence Minister, George Fernandes had paid the victim a couple of visits and spoken of the "appalling state of law and order in West Bengal.

The victim met the central team which visited the state to assess the law and order situation, to narrate her harrowing experience.

Front members now maintain that Banerjee has lost her credibility, and from now on people will take her word with a "large dose of salt". Congress legislators joined the chorus, saying that Banerjee, for all her tall claims and soundbites, has egg on her face. How can the victim return and show her face to the rest of her village? They ask.

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