TNN | Jul 21, 2012, 11.05PM IST
Kendrapada: A dalit girl was allegedly tied to a roadside coconut tree and beaten up in Afsarpur village under Jajpur Sadar police station on Friday afternoon. A mob assaulted the 20-year-old girl Mamina, accusing her of being involved in a girl trafficking racket.
"Her hair was chopped off and her complexion turned ruddy from being continuously slapped by many people. She sustained no serious injuries though," said Bijan Jena, a villager.
The incident was prompted by the disappearance of a 19-year-old girl Anita Jena from the village on Wednesday. When Anita failed to return to the village by Friday, her parents and other villagers accused Mamina of selling her to some traffickers and assaulted her.
Anita and the assault victim are friends. At the time when Anita eloped from the village, Mamina was staying at a relative's place in Jajpur town. Anita stayed with Mamina in Jajpur for two days and subsequently returned to the village on Saturday.
Narrating the nightmare, Mamina said on Saturday that she was dragged out of her house by members of Anita's family, who thrashed her, tore her clothes and tied her to a tree. "I am innocent. Anita's parents had fixed her marriage with a boy but she was not interested in marrying him, due to which she left her house and met me in Jajpur town. She returned to the village on Saturday. The villagers unnecessary blamed me for her disappearance. I have never been involved in any trafficking racket. But some villagers including Anita's parents are hell-bent on tarnishing my image in the village," said Mamina.
"The victim girl was not involved in any girl trafficking case," reiterated S N Das, police officer of Jajpur Sadar police station. "Anita left the village after her parents tried to marry her to a man against her wish. Police is investigating the case," he added.
Naliniprava Tarei, secretary of the district unit of All India Democratic Women's Association, and other women leaders on Saturday demanded the arrest of the accused persons. They faxed letters to the chairpersons of State Human Rights Commission and State Women's Commission, demanding stern action against the accused persons.
The attackers could face up to seven years in prison for their role in the incident.Link: Dalit girl tied to a tree, assaulted
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