RAIPUR: In an apparent imitation of controversial " khap panchayat ", a 35-year-old tribal teacher in Pathalgaon area in Jashpur district of Chhattisgarh was not only beaten and stripped in front of everyone but was also asked to pay Rs 1 lakh or face boycott from village.

The incident took place at Pakargaon of Pathalgaon block on April 19. Despite the fact that the woman had reported the matter naming the accused, police is still waiting to get a detailed complaint on assault and the truth in her being stripped naked to take stringent action.

The teacher has now approached human rights commission and women's commission after alleged police inaction. She was assaulted because her nephew was allegedly in a relationship with a girl of same village. According to woman's statement given to state commission for women, her nephew and the girl belonged to same caste and wished to get married.

While discussions were going on for the wedding, the girl allegedly stayed at woman's home where her nephew Bijendra also lived but after brief counseling the girl left. However, as soon as village sarpanch Nehru Lakda came to know about the girl's stay, he blamed the woman for misleading her and accused her nephew of rape.

When the village gathered at gram sabha of April 19, the girl under pressure denied having any relationship with the boy following which sarpanch, holding the woman responsible, ordered men and women present there to beat her. The victim also complained that she was robbed off her gold ornaments while she was being assaulted.

On accusations of defaming the girl, the woman was asked to pay Rs 1 lakh or leave the village with her family. "No one visits or talks to me. Moreover, I have been struggling for help from police since a fortnight but even after reporting the matter, none of the accused were arrested," she said.

Talking to TOI, secretary of state commission for women Jagrani Ekka said that a letter has been sent to superintendent of police Jitendra Mina asking Jashpur police to register a case under relevant sections. "Following the report submitted by police, commission would intervene for her justice," she said.

According to eyewitnesses, the woman was not stripped but her clothes were torn off while she was being beaten and assaulted. Hence, they said, stripping wasn't intentional. TOI spoke to the victim, who while weeping over phone, said, "Sarpanch abused me before everyone, dragged me by hair and kicked me on ground, stripping me off my clothes. Nehru is habitual of assaulting people and has boycotted more than 10 people from village and sent many to jail."

Demanding justice, the victim said, "I have already informed police amid threats from sarpanch to withdraw the complaint."

Police had registered FIR against sarpanch. "Sarpanch and two others were arrested and released on bail. If survivor has more to say about assault and being stripped by locals, she has all rights to approach the police," Neha Pandey, Jashpur additional superintendent of police told TOI.

Meanwhile, state Congress committee president Bhupesh Baghel has formed a party level committee for examining the case.

