Woman assaulted, head half-shaved over `illicit relation` in Tripura

A 60-year-old tribal woman in Tripura was beaten mercilessly and left unconscious by some people who accused her of having an illicit love affair, the police said on Sunday.

Agartala: A 60-year-old tribal woman from Bhil community was beaten and left unconscious overnight with half shaved head on allegations of having an "illicit affair" with a local shopkeeper from her community.

The incident took place in remote Ujan Chandrapur village under Puratan Raj Bari police station of South Tripura district on Friday evening.

"I was late and could not arrive on time (to Panchayat). I want punishment of those who attacked me. All of a sudden they attacked and hit me with stick after that I had fallen and became unconscious," the victim said.

"I use to go to the shop and so accused of being characterless, many people were present there. We are like brother and sister and how can one be doing immoral work there in presence of so many people present in the shop?" she added.

The victim was attacked and her head was half shaved on Friday evening when she was returning from her work attacked by the family members of the man to whom she was accused of having an illicit relationship.

She was rescued and taken to a local hospital by her neighbours next morning.

She complained that the family members of Birendra Bhil had attacked her with stick and strangled her unconscious before pushing her in the ground and fleeing from the spot.

Three women and two men, all belonging to family of Birendra Bhil, with whom the victim is accused of involved in an immoral act, were arrested from Dhimatali Panchayat, said police.

"Yesterday in the PR Bari police station a complaint was lodged by one Anjali Bhil and on the basis of that we have registered a case and arrested five persons. The complainer woman alleged that on accusation of her having an illicit relation with Birendra Bhil, his family members had physically assaulted her and also shaved a portion of her hairs," said SK Paul, Sub-division police officer of Belonia.

"Against the complaint we have take all legal steps and case has been filed and all those accused are relatives of Birendra Bhil. They are accused under IPC 354, 325, 307, 506 and 34 and today they will be forwarded to the court," he added.