Protests have erupted in West Bengal, India, after an 11-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped, and drowned in a sack while running an errand for a friend’s birthday. The tragedy has sparked massive public anger over alleged police negligence, with the victim’s grieving family claiming she “could have been saved if the police had intervened earlier” instead of delaying the initial search. While three suspects are currently detained and the main suspect was fatally shot after allegedly grabbing an officer’s weapon, the horrific crime has renewed international focus on India’s ongoing crisis of gender-based violence. With over 80 rapes reported daily and a record 69,191 child abuse cases documented in 2024, local activists warn that a widespread culture of impunity continues to leave women and children exceptionally vulnerable.
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