With 13 of the perpetrators arrested and sent to judicial custody, villagers feigned ignorance about the horrific incident and were tight-lipped about it.
According to the police, after the girl was seen talking to a man from a different community with whom she was in love, they were caught, bound to a tree and beaten up by members of the khap panchayat or 'salishi sabha' before the entire village.
"I was there when the salishi sabha (khap panchayat) was held. But I left. I don't know if the gang rape really took place or not. I don't know anything," said a villager cautiously.
Another villager said "I don't know anything. Please leave me alone. I don't want to say anything."
A woman resident impassively said "I have seen nothing.