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<p data-start="121" data-end="443"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has announced the first conviction in a case related to the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal. The conviction pertains to the rape of a nine-year-old girl in Malda district and marks a significant development in the cases being probed by the central agency.</span></p>
<p data-start="445" data-end="813"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">According to a statement from the CBI, the case involved the rape of a minor in Manikchak, Malda, by Rafikul Islam alias Bhelu, a retired school teacher. The incident occurred on the evening of June 4, 2021, while the child was playing in the accused&rsquo;s mango orchard. The investigation revealed that the accused lured the girl with money before committing the assault.</span></p>
<p data-start="815" data-end="937"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The victim and an eyewitness gave strong testimonies during the trial, which played a key role in securing the conviction.</span></p>
<p data-start="939" data-end="1137"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">On Wednesday, a POCSO court in Malda found Rafikul Islam guilty under Section 6 of the POCSO Act and Section 376AB of the Indian Penal Code. The court is expected to announce the sentence on Friday.</span></p>
<p data-start="1139" data-end="1285"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is the first case among the many investigated by the CBI in connection with the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal to reach a conviction.</span></p>
<p data-start="1287" data-end="1663" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Separately, the CBI submitted a supplementary charge sheet on June 20 in a special court in Kolkata regarding the murder of BJP worker Abhijit Sarkar during the same period of post-poll violence. The new charge sheet names 18 additional accused individuals, including a sitting legislator and two municipal councillors, bringing the total number of accused in that case to 38.</span><br><br><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">[Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by the Benefit News editorial team and is published directly from the IANS news feed]</span></p>
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First Conviction in 2021 Bengal Post-Poll Violence

CBI secures first conviction in West Bengal post-poll rape case involving a minor girl in Malda

First Conviction in 2021 Bengal Post-Poll Violence

CBI secures first conviction in West Bengal post-poll rape case involving a minor girl in Malda

July 3, 2025 | 09:25 IST