Chhattisgarh: Minor Gang-Raped; Panchayat Tries to Hush Up Case With Rs1 Lakh Compensation
In a sensational crime and flagrant violation of the law four men are accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl in a Chhattisgarh village. The panchayat attempted to cover up the incident by ordering the offenders to give the victim compensation in the amount of Rs. 1 lakh, according to news agency PTI, which cited the police on Tuesday. When police learned about the event, which happened on July 9 in the Jashpur district’s Kansabel police station area, they acted immediately and detained the suspect on Monday.
Pratibha Pandey, an additional superintendent of police in Jashpur, claims that the accused stopped the girl as she was leaving for a wedding. She was taken to a neighboring forest, where she was brutually raped.
The day after the incident was made public, the villagers allegedly convened the panchayat to resolve the matter.
“After the accused confessed to the act in front of the panchayat, they were told to give the victim Rs 1 lakh as compensation. The accused gave Rs. 10,000 with the promise to give the balance later, she alleged.
Villagers who attempted to cover up the incident will also be arrested
Police responded after receiving information about the incident. On Monday, according to Pandey, they took the victim’s and her father’s statements and filed a complaint against the suspects. Following the investigation, she added, villagers who attempted to keep the situation silent will also be detained.
