A village panchayat in Bihar ordered a rape accused to pay a fine of Rs 1,000 and perform 51 squats, after he was found guilty of committing sexually assaulting a minor Dalit girl.

The diktat was pronounced two days ago by Sidhpur panchayat in Imamganj in Gaya district.

According to sources, the Dalit girl, a resident of Baseta village, was repeatedly raped by a youth named Akash for nearly six months. The class 7 victim was first raped while she was returning home from school. The accused thereafter repeatedly raped her by threatening to disclose the matter to the her parents.

It was only after the girl became pregnant that she informed her family about it. Fearing public shame and humiliation, the girl's parents approached the accused and his family. At first, the accused's family asked the girl to abort the child and promised to get her married to their son thereafter. However, after doing so, the accused's family refused to tie the knot.

The girl's family protested and took the matter to the panchayat.

"The accused's parents told us to get the child aborted and they will pay for the same. They even promised to get my sister married to their son later. When we approached the accused after the abortion, his parents asked what proof we had that their son raped my sister", Sanjay, brother of the girl, said.

After listening to both sides, the panchayat concluded that the physical relation between the accused and the victim was consensual. The panchayat ordered the accused to perform squats 51 times and pay a fine of Rs 1,000 to the victim.

Outraged by the panchayat's diktat, the girl's family reported the matter to the police. A medical examination on the girl was conducted on Friday; an FIR was registered and the accused has now been registered.

The victim will also register her statement in the court, under Section 164 of Criminal Procedure Code, on Saturday.

"An FIR has been lodged in the case and accused has been arrested. Action will also be taken against the panchayat members", Garima Malik, Gaya SSP, said.