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Tied together by rope, these are the men accused of gang-raping a 20-year-old woman on the orders of village elders - because she had fallen in love.

The victim is fighting for life in hospital after being brutalised by so many men she "lost count".

A Kangaroo court, locally called ‘Salishi Sabha’, allegedly ordered the rape as punishment for the woman because she couldn’t pay a £244 fine for her crime - falling in love with a man outside her community.

The attack happened throughout Tuesday night, in Sabalpur village, in Birbhum, approx 111 miles outside Kolkata, West Bengal.

In her police complaint, she alleged the Salishi Sabha summoned her and her lover to their court on Monday and detained them throughout the day and night.

She says that the were then tied to separate trees in the village square as the court issued the order.

They were fined £244 each for having an affair.

But when the girl’s family admitted they were unable to pay the fine, police claim that the head of Salishi Sabha, allegedly ordered the young girl be raped as additional punishment.

The boy’s friend managed to pay his fine on his behalf.

Parthasarathi Ghosh, the Assistant Sub Inspector of Kolkata Police, said: “We can confirm after her family said they could not pay the fine the Salishi Sabha allegedly ordered the mass rape on Tuesday.”

The woman, who has not been named, is being treated at a local hospital.

Sub inspector Ghosh added: “We are now waiting for the medical report.”

The police have arrested 13 persons - including the head of the Salishi Sabha, Sunil Soren – for allegedly participating in the mass rape.

But one suspect is on the run, police said.

Sexual attacks in India have fallen under the spotlight after the 2012 gang rape and murder of a student on a Delhi bus.

The government tightened laws on sexual violence last year after widespread protests following the attack.

But violence and discrimination against women remain deeply entrenched in India’s staunchly patriarchal society.

Although them country has tightened its anti-rape laws women across the sub-continent live with the daily fear of sexual assault and victims often have to deal with police apathy.