A 14-year-old tribal girl was allegedly raped by three schoolmates in West Bengal's Birbhum last week.
In West Bengal's Birbhum, where a 14-year-old tribal girl was allegedly raped by three schoolmates last week, the survivor's family is worried about being ostracised, as they have defied the village court by complaining to the police.
The village court, called on Saturday by the tribal elders, had ordered the alleged rapists' families to pay one pot of country liquor each. The girl's family could not accept this. But now, they want the village court to decide the issue.
For tribals, the village court - which we call a kangaroo court, is supreme.
"The court said the boys would be fined one pot of country liquor each and let off this time. We couldnt accept it," said the girl's mother.
So the family went to the police and two of the alleged culprits have been arrested. But the family is now worried. "I am afraid they might ostracize us. I am worried. We have to live in this village after all," said the father.
Villagers say they won't ostracise the family but they have a quid pro quo.
Fichu Murmu, the former village headman who also headed the kangaroo court on Saturday, said, "No we will not ostracise the family but the case against the two boys must be dropped. We will decide their punishment."
As pressure mounts on the girl's family, social workers claim the village court is still supreme for these tribals. Raboy Murmu, social activist and himself a tribal, says, "The village court is best for tribals. They are not educated and don't understand the normal system of law."
The girl's father agrees, "After all we have to stay in the village together," he says.
So it could be just a matter of time before the girl withdraws her police complaint and lets the tribal court decide the matter.