20-yr old woman in Bengal critical after being gang-raped by 13 men as punishment for affair with man from different community

A 20-year old tribal woman was allegedly gangraped at Labhpur in Birbhum district by 13 persons as they were apparently against her affair with a man from a different community.

Police said all the 13 accused have been arrested while the woman is in a very critical condition at Suri Hospital after her rape on Tuesday night.

The woman's family filed a complaint with the Labhpur police station that the incident happened following a meeting by her community leaders who decided to mete out the 'punishment' for her 'crime' of being in love with someone outside her community.

Refusing to give details, ASP Prashanta Chowdhury said "prima facie, she was gangraped and we have rounded up 13 persons. No more details."

The youth with whom the girl reportedly had an affair has also been arrested apart from the 13 locals who have been slapped with charges of gangrape and causing grievous injury to a woman, police sources said. The charges against the youth are not clear.
A section of locals told the media the incident took place after a kangaroo court of tribals gave the shocking 'verdict' but this could not be officially confirmed.

A teenaged tribal girl was paraded naked in the district four years ago for the same reason, which had sparked an outrage in the state and women's organisations were up in arms.