Alleged rape victim commits suicide in West Bengal

A housewife Thursday allegedly committed suicide in West Bengal's Malda district after being raped, police said. Her family members have alleged that she set herself ablaze after a kangaroo court prevented them from a filing a police complaint.

The incident happened in Manikchak area of the district, 346 km from Kolkata.

"We have received a complaint that a woman was allegedly raped and succumbed to her injuries after she set herself afire Thursday. We are investigating the matter and we could only say if she was raped after the post-mortem report," said an officer of the Manikchak police station.

"We have been informed about a kangaroo court interference in the matter, we are investigating it," said the officer.

The victim's husband has alleged that she committed suicide after a "salishi sabha" (kangaroo court) prevented him from filing a police complaint about the rape.

"I was not at home when my wife was raped (Wednesday). When I was going to file a police complaint, villagers asked me to attend a 'salishi sabha' where the rapist was also present. The sabha told me not to file a complaint, as the rapist has apologised to my wife," said the husband.

"My wife today (Thursday) committed suicide by setting herself afire as she was not able to bear the ignominy," the man said.

The women died of her injuries at the Malda Medical College and Hospital. After this the husband filed a police complaint. Nobody has been arrested yet in this connection.