Bihar: Saharsa panchayat asks rape survivor to settle for Rs 70,000

PATNA

: A village panchayat in Saharsa district asked the gang-rape accused to pay Rs70,000 to the family of 16-year-old victim belonging to

Mahadalit

community to settle the issue. The family, however, rejected the offer and approached a social organisation for help as the local police station refused to entertain her case, the victim’s mother alleged.

When the matter surfaced in public domain and

Sonbarsa MLA

Ratnesh Sada wrote a letter to chief minister Nitish Kumar demanding action against the culprit, an FIR was registered at

Mahila

police station on March 2 against four accused under Section 375 (punishment for rape) and relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act.

Saharsa SP Lipi Singh said main accused

Sarfaraz

was arrested from Siliguri on Saturday and sent to jail after he was produced in court. “After the incident came to light, he was absconding. The victim’s statement has been recorded before a magistrate on Saturday. She was sent to the Sadar Hospital for medical test,” the SP said.

Mahila police station SHO Premlata said the incident took place on February 24 evening when Sarfaraz, along with his accomplices, abducted the girl, who was returning home after attending a Jeevika’s rally.

“The victim was forcibly taken to a maize field, which was around 1.5km away from her home. Later, the girl narrated the ordeal to her mother. We are identifying those present in the village panchayat under Bathnahi police station area, which passed such a judgment on March 1,” she said.

The SP said a special investigating team under SDPO Sadar has been formed to investigate the case.

“Action will also be taken against sarpanch, mukhiya and other members of the panchayat for the insensitive decree to settle the matter. The police team has been asked to identify all the members involved in the judgment,” the SP said.


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