Two Tribal Leaders Arrested in Chhattisgarh for Alleged Rape of Two Women
Two tribal community leaders have been arrested in Chhattisgarh's Korea district on charges of raping a 25-year-old woman and a 17-year-old girl, police said on [date]. The accused, identified as Daroga Singh, 75, and his brother-in-law Ramesh Tekam, 56, were taken into custody after the victims filed complaints.
According to police, the two women had been in relationships against their families' wishes. The families allegedly separated them from their partners and handed them over to Singh and Tekam. The 25-year-old woman told police she had married a man from another caste in April. On July 4, she said, her parents and relatives forcibly brought her back, allegedly at Singh and Tekam's instigation, and left her with them.
A police official stated: 'On the pretext of keeping her safe, the duo allegedly gangraped her multiple times on July 4, as well as made her consume pills in a bid to end her pregnancy.' The 17-year-old girl was also allegedly raped by the same men under similar circumstances.
Both accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, including rape and criminal intimidation, as well as provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act for the minor victim. They are currently in judicial custody while investigations continue.
Local authorities have assured strict action and urged any other potential victims to come forward. The case highlights issues of family pressure, inter-caste relationships, and the vulnerability of women in certain tribal communities.
