Mamata rubbishes rape claim, says it is to malign state's image

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today denied reports that a woman was gang-raped on Sunday on a train at Pachundi in the Katwa area of Burdwan district. She said those attempting to tarnish the image of the state would not be spared."A complaint of rape has been filed. Nothing has been found. Where is the evidence?  I do not think any incident of rape has taken place," Banerjee told a press conference.[caption id="attachment_227960" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="AFP"][/caption]The complainant had admitted that her husband was a CPI(M) supporter, Banerjee said."I hear a political party has planned to use its workers to cry rape. I do not understand where the culture of the party has gone."The woman had complained that she was gangraped when she resisted dacoits looting passengers of a local train near Panchundi.Stating that Delhi had witnessed six rapes and Noida one gangrape recently, she said, "Bengal is a civilised place. If someone wants to malign the image of the state by making false propaganda. Just as a murderer is punished theconspirator will also not be spared."Stating that her government would not allow negligence by the police in attending to genuine complaints, she said, "But at the same time, the police have a responsibility to ascertain if a complaint is genuine."PTI