29, Feb 2016

Feb 29 2016 : The Times of India (Ahmedabad)
Rajkot
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Survivor’s Family Has Fled The Village Fearing Backlash
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to Amreli collector and state director general of police seeking an action-taken report in connection with the alleged rape of an 18-year-old dalit girl in Amreli village last year.
Family members of the girl, who was allegedly raped by a 29-year-old man from upper caste, have fled their native Vadli village after being allegedly threatened with dire consequences by kin of the accused.

The girl was allegedly kidnapped and raped on December 25. She returned home at around 3am on December 26 and lodged a complaint against two persons Hitesh and Umesh.

After lodging the complaint, the girl’s 22 memberfamily of farm labourers, including the survivor’s paralytic father, fled the village and have been camping outside the Amreli district collectorate since January 1. They are demanding to be declared as `Hijarati’ (compelled to leave native place). A dalit right activist wrote to NHRC about the human rights violation issue and sought action.