Kolkata:
The West Bengal Crime Investigation Department or CID today appealed to Calcutta High Court for a direction on speedy trial and shifting of the Kamduni gang-rape and murder case outside the Barasat fast track court for the security of the accused.
Public prosecutor Manjit Singh pleaded before Justice Asim Ray that shifting of the case was necessary as there was apprehension that lawyers for the accused might not appear at the Barasat court in North 24 Parganas district fearing for their own safety.
Mr Singh submitted that the state government was ready to provide security to 54 witnesses from Kamduni village who would be brought to court under police protection and taken back similarly, should the case be shifted to some other location.
The counsel for the victim's family Jayanta N Chatterjee objected to the prayer saying it might prevent his client and villagers in deposing on account of logistics and security.
Justice Ray fixed the hearing of the matter on July 23.
The victim was brutally gang-raped and murdered at Kamduni village in Barasat area of North 24 Parganas district on July 7 when she was returning home. Her body was found the next morning. The incident raised a huge public outcry.