SC directs district judge panel to submit report on Birbhum gang-rape case

The Supreme Court (SC) has directed a district judge panel to submit report on the Birbhum gang rape case within seven days.

The district judge panel formed by the apex court visited the gang rape victim at the Suri Sadar hospital in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Monday.

"An enquiry is being conducted according to the Supreme Court's guidelines and it is still going on. The Supreme Court has directed us to submit the report within seven days," Public Prosecutor, Ranjit Ganguly said.

At the hospital, where the victim is admitted for treatment, the lawyers spoke to her in private and took her statement to probe the incident.

The woman, who is recovering in hospital, told the police that she was assaulted by the men on January 20 in the Birbhum district as a punishment for violating rules of her tribe by having a relationship with a man from a different community.

A 20 year old tribal woman was allegedly gang-raped last week on the order of the village kangaroo court presided by village head, who decided to punish the girl for having an affair with a boy from a different community.

The parents of the victim had filed a complaint with the Labhpur police station.