Bengal gang rape: Judge meets victim, inspects crime scene

Following directions of the Supreme Court, a district judicial officer Monday met the 20-year-old tribal woman who was gang raped by over a dozen men in West Bengal's Birbhum at the behest of a village kangaroo court last week.

Additional District Judge S.Mitra talked to the brutalised woman at the Suri Sadar Hospital where is she is recuperating. The Supreme Court earlier took suo motu cognizance of the incident.

Describing it as "very disturbing", an apex court bench headed by Chief Justice of India P. Sathasivam, Jan 24 directed district authorities to inquire into the incident and submit report in one week.

Accompanied by two other judges, Mitra also spoke to the family members of her attackers who have been arrested in connection with the crime and visited the crime scene at the Subalpur village under Labhpur police station.

Meanwhile, an eight-member special investigating team has been set up to probe the Jan 20 incident which has attracted widespread shock and condemnation.

"The team is headed by the additional superintendent of police, Birbhum. Earlier, a sub-inspector of the Labhpur police station was investigating the matter. He is also part of the team," said Superintendent of Police Alok Rajoria, adding the team has already started working on the case.

Thirteen people, including the village headman who ordered carrying out of the brutality, have been arrested in the case.