Gangrape case: West Bengal Governor wants corporal punishment for culprits

KOLKATA: Condemning the gangrape of a tribal woman in Birbhum district, West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan today said the accused should be arrested and given corporal punishment.

The 20-year-old tribal woman is in a critical condition after being gangraped by 13 persons allegedly on the orders of a kangaroo court of tribals who were incensed by her relationship with a boy belonging to another community.

"We should have them (culprits) arrested and corporal punishment should be given to them," Narayanan told reporters when asked about his reaction to the incident.

In their complaint, the woman's family said the incident happened after a meeting of community leaders who decided to "punish" her for having a relationship with a boy outside her community.

Apart from the 13 locals who have been slapped with charges of gangrape and causing grievous injury to a woman, the youth with whom the girl reportedly had an affair has also been arrested.