Trinamool seeks exemplary punishment for Madhya Pradesh rape

Claiming attempts were being made to free the rapists of tribal woman in Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress, which had sent a delegation to probe the incident, Friday said it will approach the National Commission for Scheduled Castes on the issue.

A five-member delegation of Trinamool MPs led by Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Shekhar Roy visited Bhilai Kheda village in Khandwa district Wednesday where the mother of four was allegedly gang-raped, paraded naked and forced to drink urine by 10 men including her husband.

"Deliberate attempts are being made at character assassination of the victim and free the culprits who did this heinous and barbaric act. We will actively pursue this matter and approach the SC/ST commission to ensure exemplary punishment is handed over to the ten culprits," Roy told media persons here.

The team comprising Lok Sabha members Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Uma Soren and Aprita Ghosh, and Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haq submitted its report during the day to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is also the party chief.

The team, which talked to the villagers as well as the family members of the victim, said the woman was subjected to the barbarisms as she had opposed the selling off her daughter.

"Just because she had opposed the selling of her daughter, the husband and nine other men took turns to rape, assault and humiliate her in the most barbaric manner. We will raise this issue in parliament and ensure that the culprits are meted out exemplary punishment," said Roy.