MP Dalit kin tortured, woman alleges rape

BHOPAL/SAGAR: A pregnant Dalit woman, her two children and mother-in-law were abducted, thrashed and tortured for four days in Madhya Pradesh after her husband refused to cut a tree at the farm of the accused, the police said.

The woman, who resides in Chhatarpur district, 350 km from state capital Bhopal, was rescued on Wednesday after a local journalist tipped off the police. The prime suspect, described as a village muscleman, has been arrested. Two other suspects are on the run.

On Thursday, the woman told reporters that she was also raped by the main accused but the police skipped mentioning this crime in the FIR.

The three accused have been booked for causing hurt, kidnapping, obscenity and the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocity) Act.

Rajnagar police station in charge Pankaj Sharma said the accused called the woman’s husband to his farm to cut some trees, but he refused citing ill health.

“Later, the accused reached the labourer’s house, beat his pregnant wife, two kids and mother. He also abducted and tortured them for four days.”

Sachin Sharma, SP (Chhatarpur), said they will add relevant sections relating to rape in the FIR in view of the woman’s disclosure before the media.