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Jharkhand: Five anti-trafficking activists abducted, gang-raped

The police suspect the Patthalgadi supporters are behind the incident

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Five women, who were part of an anti-human trafficking group, were allegedly gang-raped by a group of bike-borne men in Jharkhand, reports said on Friday.

According to a Hindustan Times report, the women were on their way to the state’s Kochang village located in Khunti district to stage an anti-trafficking play.

The victims, according to an Indian Express report, were engaged with an NGO supported by a Christian missionary. They were performing a play at RC Mission School in the village, which is located 90 kilometres away from Ranchi.

The abductors reportedly made videos of the incident and threatened the girls that the videos would be made viral if they disclose the incident. The DIG, however, appealed to the media to report to the police if they come across any video regarding the incident.

The reports also add that Patthalgadi was being performed in the village, and that the police suspect Patthalgadi supporters were behind the crime. Patthalgadi is a traditional practice among tribals in which they put up stone slabs with names of their ancestors. Off late, Patthalgadi has taken the form of a protest, with supporters urging people not to allow government officials and police to enter their areas.  

A priest associated with Kochang RC Church reported the matter to the police but there was no investigation. The organisation, then, lodged complaint with higher authorities, which is when the police swung into action.

NCRB data showed that the state had seen a rise in rape cases in the past year. Till March 2018, a total of 328 rape cases were registered. But in the first quarter, the number of cases was 109.08, a decrease from 113.08 from the same period last year, the data showed.

According to the police, incidents of rape were much more in the neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.

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