Jharkhand Panchayat Fined Rape Accused Rs 1 Lakh, Used Money for Party: Police
In a disturbing case of justice being subverted, a village panchayat in Gumla district, Jharkhand, attempted to cover up the rape of a three-year-old girl by fining the accused and using part of that money for a celebration, before police intervened and arrested the man.
The accused, Sunil Lohara, visited the victim's home on Saturday evening. The child's mother was present. Lohara asked to hold the child while the mother attended to her tasks, then took the girl to another room and raped her.
When the child cried out in pain, her mother rushed to her. The girl was first taken to a private doctor. Instead of reporting the matter to the police, the village panchayat took it up. Some members reportedly wanted to keep the incident within the village rather than involve the law. A meeting was held on Sunday, where Lohara was fined Rs 1 lakh as a way of settling the matter locally.
The accused paid Rs 20,000 of that amount. The panchayat then used this money to hold a party involving meat and alcohol. Lohara was told to pay the remaining Rs 80,000 within a week.
Ghaghra police station in-charge Mohan Kumar said officers received information that villagers were trying to suppress the case, and that pressure from within the village had kept it from reaching the police. Acting on a tip-off, police went to the village and registered a case based on a statement from the victim's mother. Lohara was arrested during the ongoing celebration funded by the fine.
Lodo Ekka, head of the Arangi Panchayat, said a meeting was held in Palma village following the assault, but he had not been informed of it. He said he learned about the meeting only after police arrived and the matter came to light.
Police have said further legal proceedings are under way. The case highlights the continued challenge of ensuring that crimes against children are reported and prosecuted according to law, and that local bodies do not subvert the justice system.
