INDIA: Tribal group holds silent protest rally to condemn gang rape of a 20 year old woman in eastern West Bengal province

Record ID: 1375195

  • Title: INDIA: Tribal group holds silent protest rally to condemn gang rape of a 20 year old woman in eastern West Bengal province
  • Date: 24th January 2014
  • Summary: ***EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART QUALITY AS INCOMING*** BIRBHUM, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (JANUARY 24, 2014) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) TRIBAL MEN AND WOMEN CARRYING BANNERS PROTESTING AGAINST ALLEGED GANG RAPE TRIBAL PROTESTERS BEATING DRUMS, MARCHING PROTESTERS CARRYING PLACARDS TRIBAL WOMEN MARCHING HOLDING PLACARDS PROTESTERS WALKING, HOLDING PLACARDS (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) A TRIBAL PROTESTER, PRAVEEN SOREN, SAYING: "We condemn the gang rape. Such a heinous crime has occurred within the tribal community. We oppose it strongly." PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTERS ENTERING OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE SIGNBOARD READING 'OFFICE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE' PROTESTERS STANDING, HOLDING BANNERS PROTESTERS STANDING BEHIND GATE POLICE PERSONNEL OUTSIDE COURT (SOUNDBITE) (Bengali) PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, RANJIT GANGULY, SAYING: "We have put forth two demands before the court today (January 24). We urge the court to extend the judicial custody of the 13 men accused of the gang rape. They should be produced before the court today. Secondly, we have asked for 13 days police remand for the culprits. They need to be questioned and interrogated to ensure justice in the case." POLICE STANDING NEW DELHI, INDIA (JANUARY 24, 2014) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC) (SOUNDBITE) (English) A LEADER OF COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (MARXIST), BRINDA KARAT, SAYING: "In West Bengal today, women are the targets, very vulnerable targets, because under the Mamata Banerjee government, criminals, anti-socials have a field day because they are being patronised by the TMC (regional Trinamool Congress) who are using them as instruments to create terror against political opponents." BIRBHUM, WEST BENGAL, INDIA (JANUARY 22, 2014) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (ANI - NO ACCESS BBC) EXTERIOR OF HOSPITAL AMBULANCE CARRYING ALLEGED GANG RAPE VICTIM ARRIVING AT HOSPITAL ALLEGED GANG RAPE VICTIM COMING OUT OF VEHICLE DRIP ATTACHED TO VICTIM'S HAND SIGNBOARD READING "EMERGENCY" VICTIM BEING TAKEN INSIDE HOSPITAL
  • Embargoed: 8th February 2014 20:01
  • Keywords:
  • Location: India
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Crime,General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA678S3CA92U163RH4MW8KOVTFM
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: A tribal group in India's eastern West Bengal province, on Friday (January 24), took part in a silent protest rally after a village court allegedly ordered the gang-rape of a 20-year-old woman as a punishment for having a relationship with a man from a different community.
    Carrying banners and placards, tribal men and women marched through the streets of eastern Birbhum district and expressed their anger against the alleged crime.
    The woman, who is now recovering in a local hospital, told police she was assaulted by the men on the night of January 20 in Birbhum district in West Bengal.
    Police said that her male companion was tied up in the village square, while the assault on the woman happened in a mud house.
    Condemning the crime, tribal protesters demanded immediate action.
    "We condemn the gang rape. Such a heinous crime has occurred within the tribal community. We oppose it strongly," said a tribal protester, Praveen Soren.
    The victim's family told media that she was assaulted because the court believed she had violated the rules of her tribe by falling in love with a man from another community.
    The couple was ordered to pay a fine of 25,000 rupees ($400), said the victim's mother, adding that the village head then ordered the rape of her daughter, after she refused to pay the penalty.
    Public prosecutor, Ranjit Ganguly, urged the court to extend police custody of the 13 suspects by 13 days to aid the investigation.
    "We have put forth two demands before the court today (January 24). We urge the court to extend the judicial custody of the 13 men accused of the gang rape. They should be produced before the court today. Secondly, we have asked for 13 days police remand for the culprits. They need to be questioned and interrogated to ensure justice in the case," said Ganguly.
    In northern parts of India, illegal village councils known as "Khap Panchayats" often act as de-facto courts settling rural disputes on everything from land and cattle to matrimony and murder.
    However, these councils are coming under growing scrutiny as their punitive orders grow more regressive - ranging from banning women from wearing western clothing and using mobile phones to supporting child marriage and sanctioning the lynching of young couples in so-called "honour killings".
    Meanwhile, a leader of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Brinda Karat, said that women are being targeted in West Bengal and the provincial government has failed to maintain law and order.
    "In West Bengal today, women are the targets, very vulnerable targets, because under the Mamata Banerjee government, criminals, anti-socials have a field day because they are being patronised by the TMC (regional Trinamool Congress) who are using them as instruments to create terror against political opponents," said Karat.
    The assault comes after a spate of high profile rapes in West Bengal which have brought Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee under fire for not doing enough to stop violence against women.
    In 2012 West Bengal recorded the highest number of gender crimes in the country; at some 30,942 crimes against women, which is 12.7 percent of India's total recorded crimes against women. These crimes include rape, kidnapping and sexual harassment and molestation.
    Earlier this month, West Bengal's capital, Kolkata, witnessed public protests against police who have been accused of failing to act following the gang rape of a 16-year-old girl who was later murdered.
    India toughened laws on sex crimes in March last year following the fatal gang rape of a physiotherapist on a moving bus in Delhi in December 2012. The case led to nationwide protests and helped spark national debate on gender inequality in India.
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