Gang-rape victim fears for life at village

SNEHAMOY CHAKRABORTY, TT, Jul 09, 2018, Bolpur: The 16-year-old tribal girl who was allegedly gang raped in Birbhum's Parui on Friday has said she and her family members are scared of returning home fearing they will be ostracised and attacked.

Five youths were arrested from the girl's village for the gang rape. The girl had been "warned" by elders in the village over an alleged relationship with a youth from outside her community and her family's "modern" lifestyle.

The victim said over the phone from her hospital bed on Sunday: "I am at the hospital right now. But villagers have already threatened my father that they will not let our family live in village. They threatened to drive us out. My family members are staying at a relative's house elsewhere," the girl told The Telegraph.

"If we return home, the villagers will isolate and attack us," she added.

The arrested five were produced in a Suri court and remanded in judicial custody for a day because the special court dealing with Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences cases was closed on Sunday.

Police sources said they had already started talking to the villagers to convince them not to harass the family but it would take some time.

Sources in the village said a section of residents was not willing to let the girl's family live there after the arrest of the five youths as they believe the victim had given a "bad name" to the locality.

District magistrate Moumita Godara Basu said she would seek a report from the BDO regarding the situation in the village.