A 25-year-old tribal woman from Orissa campaigning against illicit liquor, was allegedly raped by 15 persons in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh, police said today.
The incident allegedly took place on Friday, but it came to light only after the victim lodged a complaint with the Komarada police in Vizianagaram district yesterday, they said.
"The victim first lodged a complaint with the Bandhugaon police in Orissa, but it seems that they did not respond, so she came to Vizianagaram and lodged a complaint," Parvathipuram ASP A Ravi Krishna said.
The victim, a member of the Rythu Coolie Sangham organisation, along with other activists had recently warned the Sundhi community members to vacate an arrack making unit at Jadaba village in Badhugaon of Koraput district in Orissa after which the community members shifted the unit to Kunteshu village of Vizianagaram, the police officer said.
The woman along with other activists came to Kunteshu village in Komarada mandal about 1-km from Jadaba to attend a meeting against "illicit" liquor on Friday, he said.
While the meeting was going on, members of the Sundhi community attacked them with arms after which the organisers escaped, except the woman.
"The attackers took her to a hut, where 15 men raped her and she was later taken to Jadaba village where she was again raped by them," the police officer said quoting the victim's complaint.
The young woman has been hospitalised in Parvathipuram and a medical examination report is awaited, the police officer said.
He said they formed special teams and were on look out for the suspects and were in coordination with Orissa police also as part of the investigation.
"We are collecting intelligence inputs and are hopeful of nabbing the accused soon," he added.
Police have booked a case under Section 376 (rape) and SCs and STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and further investigations were on, Ravi Krishna said.
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