Mother of 3-yr-old who was pierced with needles held

We have arrested the mother. Thakur is still on the run. As he does not use a mobile phone, it is difficult to track him down. However, we have got information that he is in Jharkhand. So, a team has been sent to nab him.

Police on Saturday arrested the mother of the three-year-old girl, who died after being pierced with needles, for allegedly helping in the crime.

Police sources said the woman, Mangala Goswami, allowed her fiance Santan Thakur, to torture the girl by inserting needles in her body. She was allegedly used as a voodoo doll by Thakur who practised black magic.

The child, who had seven needles in her liver , urinary bladder, kidney, vagina and lower abdomen, was admitted to SSKM hospital in Kolkata where doctors operated on her.

However, she died on Friday. The police on Sunday produced the mother in court, which sent her to two-day police custody. Thakur, 62, a retired home guard, is still absconding.

The woman has been arrested under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, as well as Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code. Thakur has also been booked under the POCSO Act.

“We have arrested the mother. We are trying to find out her role in the torture. Thakur is still absconding. As he does not use a mobile phone, it is difficult to track him. However, we have got information that he is in Jharkhand. So, a team has been sent to nab him. We have also alerted the Jharkhand police,” Purulia district police superintendent Joy Biswas said.

Mangala worked as a domestic help at Thakur’s residence at Nadiara in Purulia.

According to sources, after being abandoned by her husband, the woman was employed by Thakur nine months ago. Soon they got involved in a relationship.

The mother initially took the girl to Bankura Medical College and Hospital for treatment of cold and cough but doctors there, after seeing the wounds on her body, informed the police.

She was then brought to SSKM Hospital, where doctors found seven needles inserted in her body in such a way that they had pierced her organs.

Locals of Nadiara also demanded stringent action against Thakur for torturing the minor.

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