Indian woman gang-raped as 'punishment'

25 Jan Aljazeera

A 22-year-old woman is critical after being allegedly gang-raped by 13 men on the orders of village elders in India's eastern state of West Bengal, reports say.

The elders meted out the rape as punishment for the woman's involvement with a man from another community. The 13 men involved in ordering the punishment and in the rape have been arrested, reports said.

"It's horrific. They (rapists) are all our neighbours and I call some of them as kaka (uncle) and some others as dada (elder brother) or bhai (brother)," said a report in The Hindustan Times newspaper, quoting the woman.

The elders, who form what is known locally as "salishi sabha" (Greivance Committee), spelt out the punishment though they do not have any status under the Indian legal system.

Such illegal 'kangaroo' courts prevail in several parts of rural India and have a reputation for being ultra-conservative and ruthless in dealing with anyone who defies social mores and customs.

According to reports , the rape occurred earlier this week at Subalpur village in Birbhum district, some 200km from the provincial capital Kolkata.

The purported offence was committed when the man from another community was seen at the woman's house. The village chief and his associates reportedly asked them to pay a fine of Rs 25,000 ($400) each for the "indiscretion".