A three-member team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) visited the riot-affected areas of Dhulagarh in Howrah district today. The team, led by NCW member Sushma Sahu, arrived there at around midday and went around the place for nearly three hours, talking to people and taking stock of the situation. Later they also met the commissioner of police of the Howrah Commissionerate.

Accompanying the team was Colonel Diptangshu Choudhury who had filed a petition at the NCW against which the team visited there today. “We had visited areas inhabited by both the Hindus and Muslims. We found out that there was also a complaint of a gang rape which was swept under the carpet,” he told DNA.

Criticising the West Bengal government he said that that state government had tried to remove all the tell-tale evidences of arson and loot. “Window panes of the houses burnt have been replaced and the walls have been given a whitewash,” he said.

Among other places of Dhulagarh, they also visited Annapurna Club from where the communal riot sparked off on December 13 when members of the minority community were taking out a religious procession which was objected to by the members of the other community.

“We will file a report to the Union home ministry and the PMO after we return,” Sahu told DNA.

It was found out that a team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) would be visiting the area next week and the Union Home Ministry would also send a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) to visit the vandalised houses of Dhulagarh.

The commissioner of Howrah Police Commissionerate is likely to be summoned by the NCW next week.