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'''2014 Birbhum gang rape case''' involves a [[gang rape]] which took place on 21 January 2014 in [[Birbhum district]] of West Bengal. When a 20-year-old tribal girl of Subolpur village was gang-raped by a group of people, as a punishment ordered by ''Salishi Sabha'', a village [[kangaroo court]], for having affair with a boy of a different community.

On 19 September 2014, a district court found all 13 persons accused guilty and sentenced them to 20 years imprisonment, the minimum sentence under the section (376(D) of IPC.<ref name=ht>{{cite web | title = All 13 held guilty in Birbhum gang rape case|work=Hindustan Times | url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/all-13-held-guilty-in-birbhum-gang-rape-case/article1-1266031.aspx |author=Surojit Ghosh Hazra|date=19 September 2014|accessdate = 2014-09-22}}</ref>

==Incident==
The incident took place on 21 January 2014 at Subolpur (Subhalpur) village within [[Labhpur]] police station area in the [[tribes of India|tribal]]-dominated Birbhum district. Previously, on 20 January, "summoned" by the ''Salishi Sabha'', the victim and her boyfriend were caught, and detained through the day and night, they allegedly tied to a tree and also assaulted. Next, they were ordered by the kangaroo court to pay a Rs 50,000 fine. When the girl was unable to pay the fine, the gang rape was ordered.<ref name=dec>{{cite web | title = Birbhum gangrape: 13 convicts get 20 years in prison for raping on order of kangaroo court | url = http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140920/nation-crime/article/birbhum-gangrape-13-convicts-get-20-years-jail-raping-order-kangaroo |work=Deccan Chronicle|date=20 September 2014|accessdate = 2014-09-22 }}</ref><ref name=htjan>{{cite web | title = 12 gang-rape tribal woman on kangaroo court order in Bengal's Birbhum district |work=Hindustan Times| url = http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/12-gang-rape-tribal-woman-on-kangaroo-court-order-in-bengal-s-birbhum-district-/article1-1175776.aspx |date=22 January 2014| accessdate = 2014-09-22 }}</ref>

The ''Salishi Sabha'', a kangaroo court was organised by the [[Gram Sabha]], a village-level self-government institution, under the leadership of an elected [[Gram Panchayat]] leader.<ref name=exp>{{cite web | title = Kangaroo court was organised by Gram Sabha: Tribal body |work= The Indian Express | url = http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/kangaroo-court-was-organised-by-gram-sabha-tribal-body/ |date=5 February 2014| accessdate = 2014-09-22 }}</ref> Sunil Soren, head of the ''Salishi Sabha'' also was involved in the rape.<ref name=htjan/>

==Aftermath==
After the incident received international news coverage,<ref>{{Cite journal | title = Indian Village Court Orders Gang Rape of Woman |journal= TIME| url = http://world.time.com/2014/01/23/indian-village-tribunal-orders-gang-rape-of-woman/ |author=Nilanjana Bhowmick|date=23 Jan 2014| accessdate = 2014-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite newspaper | title = Thirteen men in court over public gang-rape in Indian village |journal=The Guardian| url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/23/court-gang-rape-indian-village-birbhum |date=23 January 2014| accessdate = 2014-09-22| first = Jason | last = Burke }}</ref> especially as it came three days after, [[Madhyamgram]] rape and murder case made headlines, where a 16-year-old girl employee of a fitness centre was gang-raped twice in a moving vehicle in Kolkata, in October 2013. Thereafter her family were hounded out of their home and then she was set ablaze at their new residence.<ref name=htjan/><ref>{{cite web | title = Teen gang-raped twice in Madhyamgram | url = http://www.telegraphindia.com/1131029/jsp/calcutta/story_17504610.jsp#.VB_T5JSSwUc | work=The Telegraph|date= 29 October 2013|accessdate = 2014-09-22 }}</ref>

Soon, the Birbhum Superintendent of police C. Sudhakar was removed after the incident. The state governor, [[M. K. Narayanan]] called for a ban on such courts should be put down by all state governments.<ref name=todayjan/>

[[Government of West Bengal]] banned kangaroo courts, especially among the tribal-dominated areas. Though there were some demonstrations by tribal leaders who claimed they were part of their tradition and such moves would constitute interference in the community's ways of dispensing judgment.<ref name=ht/><ref name=exp/> On 24 January 2014, the [[Supreme Court of India]] directed the District Judge of Birbhum to submit a report. Then, on 28 March, setting a judicial precedent, the Supreme Court in ''[[suo motu]]'' notice directed the West Bengal government to take "concrete actions" in the case.<ref name=dec/><ref>{{cite web | title = Supreme Court sets exemplary precedents in Birbhum gang-rape judgement |work=Daily News & Analysis | url = http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/standpoint-supreme-court-sets-exemplary-precedents-in-birbhum-gang-rape-judgement-1978203 |date=14 April 2014 | accessdate = 2014-09-22 }}</ref><ref name=kanoon>{{cite web | title = In Re vs Indian Woman Says Gang-Raped On ... on 28 March, 2014 | url = http://indiankanoon.org/doc/21158886/ | accessdate = 2014-09-22 }}</ref>

==Arrests==
While the girl was admitted at the local hospital in [[Suri, Birbhum]] for medical examination and treatment,<ref name=todayjan/> her family lodged a complaint with Labhpur police station on 22 January. Subsequently, an FIR was registered, the police arrested 13 persons, including Balai Mardi (the oldest accused, age 58), Sunil Kisku allies Sunil Soren (35, the head of ''Salishi Sabha''), Chana Mardi (25), Madan Mardi (29), Suresh Mardi (22), Kartik Mardi (age 20), Jetha Tudu (21), Lalu Murmu (26), Balu Tudu (57), Ram Soren (20), Jotha Mardi (50), Babon Mardi (the youngest accused, age 19) and Debraj Mondal. One of the suspects was absconding, but was subsequently nabbed. However, when the police first raided the village to make arrest, a section of villagers opposed and additional personnel were called in.<ref name=ht/><ref name=htjan/>

As the public response grew, a four-member forensic team from Kolkata visited the village and the spot and collected samples for forensic test, and took statement from the villagers about the incident.<ref name=todayjan>{{cite web | title = Birbhum gangrape: Forensic team visits Subalpur village|work=India Today | url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/birbhum-gangrape-forensic-team-visits-subalpur-village/1/339826.html |date=25 January 2014|accessdate = 2014-09-22 }}</ref>

==The case==
On 18 April 2014, investigating officer Partha Ghosh, filed a 416-page charge sheet in the case at before at Bolpur court naming the 13 accused. Thereafter in July, they were charged under sections 364(A) (kidnapping for ransom), 342 (wrongful confinement), 376(D) (gang rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC, at Bolpur Court additional district and sessions judge, Siddhartha Roy Choudhury.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Apr 19|first=Someswar Boral {{!}} TNN {{!}}|last2=2014|last3=Ist|first3=03:39|title=Cops file chargesheet for Labhpur gang rape {{!}} Kolkata News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/Cops-file-chargesheet-for-Labhpur-gang-rape/articleshow/33925606.cms|access-date=2020-06-12|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref>

On 19 September 2014, additional district and sessions judge Siddhartha Roy Choudhury in his judgement found the accused guilty under 342 (wrongful confinement), 376(D) (gang rape) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of IPC and sentenced them to 20 years imprisonment.<ref name=dec/>

==See also==
*[[Suzette Jordan]]
*[[2015 Kandhamal gang rape case]]
*[[Kathua Rape Case]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=2014 crimes in India, Gang rape in India, Violence against women in India, Crime in West Bengal, Incidents of violence against women
|description=
}}

[[Category:2014 crimes in India]]
[[Category:Gang rape in India]]
[[Category:Violence against women in India]]
[[Category:Crime in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Incidents of violence against women]]

2014 Birbhum gang rape case - Revision history

MetaBOT at 18:12, 8 July 2023