Rape victim forced to lick sputum by panchayat in Bihar; FIR filed
A woman in Bihar, India, was allegedly forced to lick sputum by a local panchayat after being accused of an illicit relationship following a rape. Police have filed an FIR after a video of the incident went viral, though the primary rape suspect remains at large.
Why it matters
The incident underscores ongoing issues regarding gender-based violence and the extrajudicial power wielded by local village councils in parts of India.
BEGUSARAI: A woman was allegedly forced to lick sputum in front of a panchayat in a village under Balia police station limits in Bihar's Begusarai district.The woman, a mother of two, was allegedly raped by a co-villager. However, instead of treating her as a rape survivor, the local panchayat accused her of having an illicit relationship and allegedly coerced her into licking sputum.The incident dates back to June 5 but came to light after a video of the episode went viral on social media platforms on Saturday. Begusarai DSP (HQ) Nikhil Kumar said on Sunday that an FIR in the case was registered on July 31."The veracity of the video is being examined. The rape accused is absconding.
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