Nadia nun rape case: Second arrest made in West Bengal

Close to two weeks after the gang-rape of 72-year-old nun of Ranaghat convent in Nadia district of West Bengal, the CID made its first arrest in the wee hours of Wednesday in Mumbai. Later in the day, a second arrest was made in North 24 Parganas in West Bengal. 

The first suspect, identified as Sikander Sheikh alias Salim, was picked up from Nagpada area in south Mumbai last night by West Bengal police in coordination with their Mumbai counterparts, a police officer said. He is being brought to Kolkata on transit remand and is likely to be questioned at Bhawani Bhawan - CID headquarters in Bengal. According to the police, they were able to nab the suspect through his phone's tower location. The sleuths have also found certain facial similarities with the dacoits, who appeared on the CCTV footage.

The second person arrested is named Gopal Sarkar, and reportedly provided shelter to the accused, according to CID sources. Police say both suspects are from Bangladesh and living illegally in India.

On March 13, an elderly nun was gang-raped by suspected dacoits, who entered the Convent of Jesus and Mary and looted as much as Rs 12 lakhs. Taking no chances, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had immediately ordered a CID probe. With no major breakthrough with the CID probe, Banerjee had recommended a CBI probe into the gang rape case.