PATNA: A tribal girl student on a Jharkhand college hostel was on August 4 stripped and beaten for allegedly stealing a mobile phone. A video recording of the incident, including nude images of the girl was later circulated on social media.
After the Opposition Congress and JMM legislators attacked the state’s BJP-led government over the incident in Dumka district on Tuesday, chief minister Rahubar Das ordered a probe leading to the detention of two people.
“Anju Murmu, superintendent of the Scheduled Tribes Welfare Hostel of Santhal Pargana College in Dumka, and hostel prefect Latika have been detained. They allegedly did not take action despite the victim’s complaint about the August 4 incident. A probe is on,” said Mayur Patel, the SP of Dumka.
In her written complaint to police, the victim, a BA first year student said she had purchased a second-hand mobile phone for Rs 500 but was later accused by another hostel resident of theft.
“Hostel inmates then convened a meeting, stripped the girl, beat her up and recorded the incident. They also imposed a fine of Rs 18,600 and threatened to publicise her nude video if she did not pay,” said a police official.
The victim left for her home and returned the next day with her father, a farmer, who promised to pay the fine by August 25 by selling his bullocks, the officer added.
“The father requested girls not to make the video public but by then it had already circulated on social media. We are trying to trace all recipients and have it deleted from their phones,” said the official.
Principal Dr Renukanath, who was approached by police on Saturday, allegedly tried to discourage the probe, saying that the victim and the perpetrators were tribal women. Sidho Kanho University pro-vice-chancellor Dr Satyanarayan Munda said action would be taken against everyone found lax in the matter.
A three-member team of senior civil officials has been formed to investigate and submit a report by Wednesday. A simultaneous probe by the SP is on,” said Dumka deputy commissioner Mukesh Kumar.