INDIA: Rape victim and her child auctioned for six rupees in Jharkhand 

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from reliable sources about the rape of a young woman who was subsequently sold in a public auction on 20 August 2005 in Chirgaon village, Latehar District, Jharkhand for six rupees (13 US cents).

Piary, a tribal woman was sexually abused by four people from her village Chirgaon over the past year. As a result of this Piary soon had a child and demanded that the four villagers accountable for her predicament take responsibility for her child. The village heads first decided that the perpetrators should pay some money to Piary, but when she rejected this, they then decided to auction Piary and her child off.

Piary and her daughter were auctioned off to Somarji with the approval of the villagers who also celebrated this event. An organisation working with tribal women informed the police of this gross violation. However, in the raid that followed all the perpetrators involved in this crime managed to evade the police.

It is alleged, according to an update in the news the next day, that a young man seeing Piary’s plight agreed to marry her and adopt her daughter. This apparently met with everyone’s approval.

However, in light of the above, please immediately ask the Chief Minister of Jharkhand to ensure that all the perpetrators including the village heads involved in the offences against the victim are arrested. The police need to be vigilant and see that all the laws and processes are in place and firmly implemented so that such incidents do not take place in the future.

Urgent Appeals Desk
Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)
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DETAILED INFORMATION:

Name of the victim: Piary Kumari, 19-years-old, and her young daughter
Place of incident: Chirgaon Village, Chandoa Block, Chandoa Police Station, Latehar District, Jharkhand
Alleged perpetrators:
1.Jiban Turi
2.Narhu Jadav
3.Lalbir Mahato
4.Liba
5.Headmen of Chirgaon Village
6.Somarji of Balumath Village

Date of incident: 20 August 2005

Case Details

Piary Kumari, a 19-year-old tribal woman from Chirgaon Village, Jharkhand, was sexually abused by four people from her village over the past year, which resulted in her giving birth to a child. She then appealed to the senior people in her village to ask these four people to take responsibility for her daughter. After a long time, the village heads (Mukhiyas) called a meeting of the villagers and it was decided that the four perpetrators would give Rs 3000 each as a fine and Piary would be asked to leave the village as she had maintained illicit relationships with these men.

However, Piary objected to this and the village heads then decided to have an auction where Piary along with her child would be sold to the highest bidder. On 20 August 2005, an auction was organised and Somarji from Balumath Village (close to Chirgaon Village) bought Piary and her daughter for the sum of Rs six (approximately 13 US cents) amidst a huge celebration in which all the villagers actively participated.

On hearing this appalling incident, a voluntary organisation working with tribal women in Latehar district informed the police who raided Somarji’s house. Unfortunately not only he but also the leaders and the four perpetrators who were involved in abusing Piary all managed to escape from their houses.

It is also alleged, according to the newspaper that a young man, Rajesh Lohar also of Balumath village, who was present during the auction agreed to marry Piary and take responsibility of her child. This was met with approval and the village heads also announced that the Rs 12,000 that was collected from the four perpetrators would be handed over to Piary for arranging the marriage.

It is extremely unfortunate that the practice of selling people still exists in remote parts of India. Slavery is a punishable offence under Indian law as much as rape is and participation in an auction where people are being sold is also an offence. This incident very much highlights the backwardness of the state and ignorance of some people.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send a letter to the Chief Minister of Jharkhand asking him to arrest all the perpetrators involved in the crimes.

 

 

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