A village panchayat in Madhya Pradesh's Rajgarh district reportedly asked family members of a rape survivor, who belongs to a lower caste, to hold a community feast so that she was "purified". When the family expressed its inability to do so, the panchayat "ostracised" the rape survivor and her family.
According to the police, a 16-year-old girl of Dangarpur village was allegedly raped by a resident of the same village in January this year. The accused was arrested and sent to judicial custody. However, the sarpanch of Dangarpur ordered the rape survivor's family to organise a non-vegetarian feast to "purify" her.
The incident came to light when the family approached the Rajgarh district police against the panchayat diktat, Chandrasen Bhide, Women and Child Development (WCD) Officer, said. The survivor and her mother filed a complaint, seeking action against the panchayat. Subsequently, a team comprising WCD, revenue and police officials visited the village.
The State Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the incident and ordered an inquiry. It has also sought a report from the Rajgarh Collector and SP within three weeks.
Source: Tribune India
0 COMMENTS
