Tribal girl gang-raped in Bihar, locals stage protest

Katihar: A 16-year-old tribal girl was allegedly gang-raped by anti-social elements at Hapla Siraniya village in Katihar district of Bihar triggering mass protest by the locals and tribals on Saturday.

The girl, hailing from West Bengal, was allegedly gang-raped on September 22 last after being abducted by two motor-cycle borne persons when her bicycle developed some problems while she was returning to her relative's house at Hapla Sirniya village.

The two persons approached her and asked her whether they would drop her at her relative's residence. The duo then abducted her and took her to an isolated place where they along with some other persons allegedly gang-raped her, the police said.

A case was lodged with Mufassil police station against three named accused persons and six unnamed persons on September 24 last after the girl identified one of the two motor-cycle borne persons, the police said.

Several thousand protestors comprising locals and tribals from Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal gathered in the village today and protested against the police's failure to nab the culprits.

They took out a procession to the District Collectorate, 15 km away from the village, which hit life in Katihar town for several hours.

Sub-divisional Officer Rakesh Raman said that a five-member delegation from the area has been called to discuss the issue with District Magistrate Sanjay Kumar.

Superintendent of police Sidharth Mohan Jain said that warrants have been issued against the accused persons and an operation has been launched to nab the culprits.

The SP said that they would get orders from the court by Monday to attach the properties of the accused persons.