Family of rape accused tries to cut victim's tongue

Family members of a rape accused tried to chop off the victim’s tongue in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh district, about 175 kilometres from here, in a bid to prevent her from attending the court to record her statement.

According to the police, the victim suffered serious injuries on her face and mouth and has been admitted to district hospital. The doctors said that her speech is temporarily impaired.
According to reports, the 18-year-old victim, a resident of Naubasta village, was allegedly raped by one Lavlesh on January 22. The accused is at present lodged in  jail.

The victim’s family alleged that Lavlesh’s family has been threatening the girl and had asked them not to pursue the matter and warned of dire consequences.

“They said she would not be able to record her statement. We had brought the matter before the police,” the victim’s family said. The victim had been asked to appear at the Pratapgarh district court and record her statement.

Lavlesh’s elder brother, Lalji, and a relative attacked the victim on Wednesday night. She was attacked with sharp edged weapons and was hit several times on the face and mouth. Though the victim’s family claimed that her tongue had been chopped off, the police said that the victim had suffered injuries on the face.