In West Bengal, a 52-year-old man had half his hair and moustache shaved off, garlanded with shoes and beaten up by an angry mob after his minor niece complained that he had sexually molested her.
The incident took place at Raniganj near Asansol on Monday. Neighbours saw the 13-year-old girl, who had recently come from Uttar Pradesh, sitting outside her uncle's house and crying. When asked, the girl said her uncle would make her sleep next to him, watch pornographic films and grope her.
The uncle had also allegedly warned her not to tell anyone about the situation.
This afternoon, after the girl broke down, a mob gathered, dragged the uncle out of the house and beat him up. The police had to come and rescue him.
The man is a local colliery worker. He is married and has children but his family is in his native village in Uttar Pradesh. About three weeks ago, he returned from there with his niece, saying she would help run the house while he worked. No one else lived in his house.
Till last reports came in, the man was being questioned by the Raniganj police which has taken him into "protective custody". No one has filed a police complaint yet. Not even the girl.
"The girl is staying with some neighbours. Her parents, who live near Kanpur, have been informed and are expected to reach Raniganj tomorrow and take the issue forward," said Vineet Goel, Commissioner, Asansol-Durgapur police commissionerate.
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