Kolkata: House built, police protection for Birbhum rape victim

Kolkata, Feb 1: With villagers opposing her return, the tribal girl who was gang-raped on the order of a kangaroo court, will be staying in a house being built near her Subolpur village in Birbhum district and has been provided police protection.

The house under the Indira Awas Yojana was being constructed for her in a locality near the village.

The 20-year-old girl who was gang-raped on January 21 allegedly by 13 persons, including the community chief, was discharged from hospital on Friday and was accommodated in a state-run home for the destitute, West Bengal Women and Child Welfare minister Shashi Panja said on Saturday.

House constructed under the Indira Awas Yojana

However, after the incident villagers have opposed her return and also the victim is reluctant to go there. The shocking incident took place after the girl expressed inability to pay Rs 25,000 as fine for allegedly having an affair with a man from another community.

Panja said that the girl has also been provided police protection. The girl had appeared before Sub-divisional Judicial Magistrate Pijush Ghosh, Bolpur to record her statement under CrPC 164 on January 30. The 13 accused, including the 'morol' (community head) Balai Murdy, were in police custody for 13 days since January 23.

PTI