Bengal gangrape victim stable

The condition of the 20-year-old woman who was allegedly raped by more than a dozen men following orders of a kangaroo court in West Bengal is stable, an official of the hospital where she is admitted said Friday.

The alleged rape took place Monday night in Subalpur village in Birbhum district, 180 km from Kolkata.

She was allegedly violated by more than a dozen men following orders of a kangaroo court which found her "guilty of having an affair with a man outside her community".

The woman, who is undergoing treatment at the Suri Sadar Hopsital, said she was left at the mercy of the men after she was unable to pay Rs.50,000 as fine demanded by the headman for having an affair with a man outside her community.

"She is stable and has taken food," Asit Biswas, superintendent of the hospital said.

While police arrested all 13 people the woman had accused in her complaint, a local court sent the accused to 14 days judicial custody after police did not seek custody nor any public prosecutor appeared.

Women and Child Welfare Minister Shashi Panja is scheduled to visit her Friday.