Kolkata/Suri: After a kangaroo court ordered the gang-rape of a tribal girl in Birbhum district, West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan on Saturday said such courts should be put down by all state governments.
"Kangaroo courts are no courts at all. Not only the state government, but all governments all over the country must put down these kangaroo courts," Narayanan told reporters here when asked about the horrific incident.
State Women and Child Welfare minister Shashi Panja who visited the Suri hospital where the victim was admitted said her medical tests were normal.
"She is returning to normal in hospital. The reports are good," Panja said.
The girl would decide whether she wanted to stay on in the village in future.
"The girl will decide that. We hope that people will see the case with sensitivity and have sympathy towards the girl. We expect that everyone will co-operate," the minister said.
Suri Hospital Superintendent Ashit Biswas said that the health parameters of the victim were good, but she was being counselled after the trauma she was subjected to.
IG (Western Range), Siddhinath Gupta, DIG (Burdwan Range) L N Meena, District Magistrate Jagdish Prasad Meena also visited the hospital. They did not speak to reporters. The new Superintendent of Police Alok Rojoria said that investigations were proceeding.
A four-member forensic team visited Subolpur village in Labhpur police station area where the girl was raped on January 21 and collected samples.
A police picket has been posted at the village, while two constables were guarding the victim`s house.
The 13 people accused of the gang-rape on the orders of a kangaroo have been remanded to police custody for 13 days.
The 20-year-old girl was punished for falling in love with a man from another community and when she expressed her inability to pay Rs 25,000 demanded as fine, the kangaroo court had ordered her to be gang-raped.
Meanwhile, the man, Sheikh Khalek, of Gazipara was incommunicado.
His brother, Dipu Seth, had paid the Rs 25,000 fine that the kangaroo court imposed on him.
Khalek`s wife, Hasina Bibi said that he had to pawn her jewellery to pay the fine.
Two women villagers when asked about the victim and her paramour said that they would not be allowed to return to the village.
The women, Monika Tudu and Sulmoni Murdy, said that the victim had gone for work to Delhi and alleged that she was an immoral person.
"We will not allow her or Sheikh Khalek to enter our village," they said.
