|
Agartala, Sept. 30: A 23-year-old tribal woman was gangraped last night at a remote tribal hamlet in Gandacherra sub-division of Tripura, triggering widespread resentment in the area.
The woman was escorting three girls from a science exhibition held at Kabiguru Smriti Vidyaniketan, 4km from the sub-divisional town, to their respective houses last night.
According to police, around 9pm, when the group reached the fishery complex in the area, three unidentified men started chasing them. Though the three girls managed to escape, the mother of two could not. “She was dragged to an isolated place in the fishery complex and the three men took turns raping her,” said inspector-general, police control, Nepal Chandra Das, here today.
On hearing her calls for help, local people rushed to the area but the trio managed to give them the slip under cover of darkness, leaving the woman behind in a critical condition. Villagers then admitted her to the Gandacherra subdivisional hospital.
Das said medical tests were conducted on the victim, who was now stable, adding that a specific case had been lodged under Sections 376(2) IPC and 27 Arms Act.
He said a massive manhunt had been launched to apprehend the culprits though they had not been able to make any breakthrough yet.
On being asked about the involvement of militants, Das said, “So far, we are not sure about any militant hand in the heinous crime. However, the victim told the investigating officer that the culprits had threatened her with a dao and knives,” he said.
Tripura Commission for Women chairperson Purnima Roy today expressed concern over the incident and demanded exemplary punishment for those involved.
Roy also laid stress on a complete change in the mindset of people. “We are contemplating about conducting awareness programmes at college and university levels to address the social problem,” she added.
Tripura, which has already earned a bad name for crime against women, has registered altogether 119 rape cases, 426 cases of domestic violence and 171 molestation cases between January 1 and July 31 this year.
| 
