Jharkhand: Five anti-trafficking activists abducted, gangraped, filmed at gunpoint
In a horrifying incident, at least half a dozen armed men in Jharkhand's Khunti abducted five anti-trafficking activists, gangraped them for three hours and recorded the incident on camera, police said yesterday. Their male companions were allegedly thrashed, forced to drink their own urine and then locked up in their own car. Police have detained nine people for questioning.
They were enacting a play when they were taken away
The team was in Khunti spreading awareness on human trafficking. Their NGO was supported by Christian missionary, DIG AV Homkar said. Tuesday, while they were enacting a play at RC Mission School in Kochang block, a group of men arrived on bikes and forced the women to sit inside cars at gunpoint. Their male colleagues were tortured before being locked up.
Accused are supporters of the tribal Pathalgadi system
They then drove to a secluded place with the five women and gangraped them. Two nuns who accompanied them were released unharmed, NDTV reported. The accused are suspected supporters of the Pathalgadi tribal system, which rejects government authority and recognizes themselves as the supreme authority. The men allegedly warned the NGO team against entering the area "without their permission to propagate the government's agenda," Homkar said.
Father alleges inaction by police till higher authorities intervened
Police have now detained nine men for questioning and formed three teams to nab the culprits, who have been identified. "Raids are on at suspected locations," Homkar said. However, a father associated with the Kochang RC Church said the police initially didn't take any action even after they informed them. It was only when they reached out to higher authorities that a probe started.
