SC takes suo motu cognizance of WB gang rape

New Delhi, Jan 24:

The Supreme Court Friday took suo motu cognizance of the gang rape of a 19-year old girl in West Bengal’s Birbhum district and described it as “very disturbing”.

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam while taking suo motu cognizance of the incident issued notice to the West Bengal government.

“It is a very disturbing news. We take suo motu cognizance of it,” said Chief Justice Sathasivam as he directed the Birbhum district magistrate to inquire into the matter and submit report in one week.

It is alleged that victim belonging to Labpur village suffered gang rape on the orders of the village head as a punishment for falling in love with a man from a different community.

Meanwhile, the condition of the 20-year-old woman is stable, an official of the hospital where she is admitted said Friday.

The alleged rape took place Monday night in Subalpur village in Birbhum district, 180 km from Kolkata.

She was allegedly violated by more than a dozen men following orders of a kangaroo court which found her “guilty of having an affair with a man outside her community”.

The woman, who is undergoing treatment at the Suri Sadar Hopsital, said she was left at the mercy of the men after she was unable to pay Rs.50,000 as fine demanded by the headman for having an affair with a man outside her community.

“She is stable and has taken food,” Asit Biswas, superintendent of the hospital said.

While police arrested all 13 people the woman had accused in her complaint, a local court sent the accused to 14 days judicial custody after police did not seek custody nor any public prosecutor appeared.

Women and Child Welfare Minister Shashi Panja is scheduled to visit her Friday.

(IANS)