Pratapgarh rape incident: 'Guilty will not be spared,' says SP leader Kamal Farooqi

Terming the rape case in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, as extremely shameful, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Kamal Farooqi on Friday assured action against those found guilty.

"Whatever has happened in Pratapgarh is extremely shameful. We are taking the strongest action against those guilty. The guilty will not be spared," said Farooqi.

Meanwhile, in Varanasi, Nina P. Nayak, a member of the National Council for the Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), described the tongue slitting incident as a brutal crime.

"It is a very brutal crime against the child. The sensitivity has increased all over. I don't know if the case is registered or not. The law is very strict and guilty can be sentenced for 10 years," she said.

"Under that law, the accused has to prove that he hasn't done anything. Another law is the Indian Penal Code (IPC). We will ask the DM (District Magistrate) about what is happening. We will request for the setting up of a national commission on this issue. The state is trying very hard to see how we can fast track the judicial issue. Unless we give mental health counseling, she won't get over it, Nayak added.

In a horrific incident, the tongue of a rape survivor was chopped off in Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh late on Wednesday night. The minor was allegedly gangraped on January 22.

The gangrape survivor was scheduled to give a statement before the court on July 24. Her father has already recorded his statement in the case.

Interacting with reporters, a relation of the girl, Raj Kumar, said that a brother of the main accused and some other unidentified men attacked the rape victim and attempted to chop off the girl's tongue.

"These men were hiding near a stream and when the girl went there for nature's call, they attacked her. They sat on her chest, took out her tongue and slit it. They kicked her and injured her limbs," he said. The main accused in the case is currently in judicial custody.

Commenting on the incident, Pratapgarh District Superintendent of Police L R. Kumar said a case has been filed against the brother of the main accused in the rape case.