Girl gang raped by 13 men as punishment

Police have arrested 13 men after village elders in India ordered a woman to be
gang raped - because she had fallen in love. A Kangaroo court, locally called ‘Salishi
Sabha’, allegedly ordered the rape as
punishment for the 20-year-old woman
because she couldn’t pay a £244 fine for her
‘love’ crime - falling in love with a man
outside her community. The victim told the police that she “lost
count” of the number of men who assaulted
her throughout Tuesday night, in Sabalpur
village, in Birbhum, approx 111 miles outside
Kolkata, West Bengal. In her police complaint, she alleged the
Salishi Sabha summoned her and her lover
to their court on Monday and detained them
throughout the day and night. She says that the were then tied to separate
trees in the village square as the court
issued the order. They were fined £244 each for having an
affair. But when the girl’s family admitted they were
unable to pay the fine, police claim that the
head of Salishi Sabha, allegedly ordered the
young girl be raped as additional
punishment. The boy’s friend managed to pay his fine on
his behalf. Parthasarathi Ghosh, the Assistant Sub
Inspector of Kolkata Police, said: “We can
confirm after her family said they could not
pay the fine the Salishi Sabha allegedly
ordered the mass rape on Tuesday.” The woman, who has not been named, is
being treated at a local hospital. Sub inspector Ghosh added: “We are now
waiting for the medical report.” The police have arrested 13 persons -
including the head of the Salishi Sabha,
Sunil Soren – for allegedly participating in
the mass rape. But one suspect is on the run, police said. Sexual attacks in India have fallen under
the spotlight after the 2012 gang rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus. The government tightened laws on
sexual violence last year after
widespread protests following the attack. But violence and discrimination against
women remain deeply entrenched in India’s
staunchly patriarchal society. Although them country has tightened its anti-
rape laws women across the sub-continent
live with the daily fear of sexual assault and
victims often have to deal with police apathy.