<p>Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh continue to let off rape accused after imposing fines. <br /><br /></p>.<p>In a shocking incident, a panchayat in UP’s Amroha district, about 350 kilometers from here, let off a man who had allegedly raped his own niece, after imposing a fine on him and asked the victim’s family not to approach the police for registration of a case in this connection.<br /><br />According to reports, the victim, a minor, had been repeatedly sexually exploited by her uncle, who had threatened her with dire consequences if she dared to tell her parents about the same.<br /><br />The culprit was, however, caught by the victim’s family with the minor on Friday night but he managed to escape. Since the alleged culprit was a member of the family, the elders in the village intervened and asked them to settle the matter through a panchayat. <br /><br />A panchayat was convened on Saturday and after much deliberations it decided to let off the accused after paying a fine of Rs 40,000 to the victim’s family to which he readily agreed. <br />In exchange, the family was asked not to file any complaint with the police.<br /><br />Panchayats in the state are known for their bizarre decisions to settle cases of sexual exploitation. Barely a few days ago, a panchayat had imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on a 45-year old man, who had allegedly fathered a child through an illegitimate relationship with a 17-year old girl and settled the matter.<br /><br />The panchayat had also directed the man to pay a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 to the girl. <br />The child was left in the custody of the mother on the condition that she would hand him over to his biological father when he attains adulthood. <br />It barred the girl from marrying until her son turned 18.</p>
<p>Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh continue to let off rape accused after imposing fines. <br /><br /></p>.<p>In a shocking incident, a panchayat in UP’s Amroha district, about 350 kilometers from here, let off a man who had allegedly raped his own niece, after imposing a fine on him and asked the victim’s family not to approach the police for registration of a case in this connection.<br /><br />According to reports, the victim, a minor, had been repeatedly sexually exploited by her uncle, who had threatened her with dire consequences if she dared to tell her parents about the same.<br /><br />The culprit was, however, caught by the victim’s family with the minor on Friday night but he managed to escape. Since the alleged culprit was a member of the family, the elders in the village intervened and asked them to settle the matter through a panchayat. <br /><br />A panchayat was convened on Saturday and after much deliberations it decided to let off the accused after paying a fine of Rs 40,000 to the victim’s family to which he readily agreed. <br />In exchange, the family was asked not to file any complaint with the police.<br /><br />Panchayats in the state are known for their bizarre decisions to settle cases of sexual exploitation. Barely a few days ago, a panchayat had imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on a 45-year old man, who had allegedly fathered a child through an illegitimate relationship with a 17-year old girl and settled the matter.<br /><br />The panchayat had also directed the man to pay a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 to the girl. <br />The child was left in the custody of the mother on the condition that she would hand him over to his biological father when he attains adulthood. <br />It barred the girl from marrying until her son turned 18.</p>