Kolkata: Round-the-clock security for Kamduni rape accused

Kolkata: A court on Tuesday directed that the accused in the Kamduni gangrape case be segregated from other prisoners and be given special protection following a prayer by them claiming fear of assault. Sanchari Sarkar, additional district judge at Bankshall Court, directed that the eight accused, who are in custody at the Dumdum Correctional Home in Kolkata, be segregated from other inmates at the facility.  Acting on a prayer by the accused, Sarkar directed that two armed policemen be posted round-the-clock outside their cells. The accused are facing charges of gangrape and murder of a 20-year-old girl on June 7 at Kamduni village in the Barasat area of North 24 Parganas district near Kolkata. The judge also directed the SP of the correctional home to ensure that the eight accused’s food be tasted before being served to them. The prosecution was also asked to ensure proper security during transit of the accused to and from court. The matter comes up for hearing again on Friday. The accused had on Aug. 23 prayed through their counsel Firoz Edulji that necessary security be provided to them so that they were not tortured or subjected to bodily harm. Stating that one of the accused was severely assaulted at the correctional home recently, Edulji had prayed that armed guards be posted outside the cell of the petitioners. The petitioners submitted that Ajmal Kasab, the only terrorist caught alive from the 26/11 attack in Mumbai, had been provided round-the-clock security at his prison. Claiming that they may be poisoned, the accused had also requested that the food served to them in custody be tasted before they ate it. PTI