Girl gang-raped, paraded with shaved head as punishment

Authorities say victim was repeatedly raped till she lost her consciousness

Six people were taken into custody on Tuesday after a minor girl was gang-raped, her head shaved and was paraded through her village as a punishment by the panchayat in Gaya district of Bihar.

According to Indian news outlet NDTV, the girl was kidnapped in a vehicle by a group of men on the evening of August 14, when she was out to relieve herself.

She was forcibly taken to the roof of the local panchayat building, where she was repeatedly raped till she lost her consciousness.

A villager spotted her the next day and informed her family members, who brought her home.

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However, the village Panchayat, which is allegedly under the influence of the powerful relatives of the accused, instead of helping the survivor ordered a punishment for her. Her head was shaved and she was then paraded through the village.

A case was registered at the women police station on Monday, 11 days after the incident took place.

The police acted only after the survivor and her mother met top district police officials on Saturday.

"Six people have been detained so far," said Niranjana Kumari, Women Police Station Officer Incharge.

"All the five panchayat members, who held the meeting and ordered the punishment, have been named as accused in the case under the POCSO Act and have been detained. Besides, Devlal Yadav, who was identified by the survivor as one of the six accused of the gangrape, has also been detained. The survivor has so far not been able to identify the rest of the accused in the gangrape case," said Ravibhusan, Officer-Incharge, Mohanpur police station.