Tribal leaders demand CBI probe into Labhpur gang rape case

An umbrella organisation of tribals today vowed to protect the autonomy of tribal society, threatening to launch a countrywide stir if the government interfered in their rituals and customs, and demanding a CBI inquiry into the Labhpur gang rape incident.
Defying prohibitory orders, the newly-formed Adibasi Adhikar Hulsai Mancha (revolutionary front for protection of tribal rights) today held a huge rally at Dhobajol village near Ahmedpur, around 6 kms from the village where a tribal woman had allegedly been gang-raped.
"We will protect the autonomy of the tribal society at any cost. If the government tries to interfere in our rituals and customs, we will organise greater agitation across the country. For the very existence of tribal society, the government should support the customs," said Nityananda Hembram, who was introduced as head of the Majhis (community leaders) of the Santhal community, and who had come from Delhi to address the meet.

Opel Murdy, a state leader of Bharat Jakat Majhi Maroa, an old Shantal community organisation, was nominated as the convener of the new platform. Around five thousand people from different districts of West Bengal and neighbouring areas of Jharkhand took part in the rally.
"No such incident at all happened in that village as was reported in the media. If anybody raped the woman, it was her fiance who is now in safe custody. Police have only arrested innocent people. We demand a CBI inquiry into the incident for proper investigation," Hembram said.
Criticising the media, most of the speakers at the rally said the incident was not reported properly and had shattered the image of tribal culture and society.

The girl was allegedly gang-raped on the orders of a kangaroo court at a village near Labhpur, about 200-km from Kolkata, on January 21 when she expressed her inability to pay Rs 50,000 demanded as fine for falling in love with a man from another community.