Bihar: Main accused in gang-rape of 5 Mahadalit women arrested

After much pressure from Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, the police have arrested Neel Nidhi Singh, main accused of the gang-rape of five Mahadalit women, all rag-pickers, in a village in Bihar’s Bhojpur district.

Singh is a former commander of the notorious Ranveer Sena, a private militia of landholder upper caste, and is named as the main accused in the incident of gang rape of five Mahadalit women including four minor girls at gunpoint at Kurmuri village in Bhojpur.

A first information report has been registered, said Superintendent of Police Rajesh Kumar.

Taking congnisance of the incident, the Bihar Human Rights Commission has directed the Bhojpur district magistrate and superintendent of police to submit a report to it about action taken after it and compensation to the victims.

“We have sought a report from the district administration as it is a serious matter,” commission member Neelmani said.

The state women commission has sought a report from the Bhojpur police about the incident and constituted a three member inquiry committee. “Our team would visit the village on Saturday,” state women commission chairperson Anjum Ara told mediapersons.

Assistant Director General (police headquarters) Gupteshwar Pandey said three other named accused have already been arrested.

Hundreds of angry people, mostly activists and supporters of Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) protested by blocking Fatehpur-Sikarhatta roads on Friday and called for Bhojpur bandh on October 13.

However, taking serious note of the incident, Manjhi has ordered concerned officials to ensure arrest of all accused within 24 hours. He also instructed the police to initiate process for property attachment if accused were not arrested.

Manjhi also directed the police to file chargesheets against the accused and to begin a speedy trial of the case soon. Manjhi has ordered the Bhojpur district magistrate and superintendent of police to jointly investigate into the incident and submit the report within seven days

All the victims were rag-pickers and residents of Dumaria village, and had gone to Kurmuri to sell their scraps to a dealer on Wednesday evening. According to the police, the victims said they had decided to stay back in Kurmuri as it was already night that day.