Locals In Chhattisgarh Town Call ‘Bandh’ After Rape Survivor's Mother's Arrest

The mother of the rape survivor was arrested two days back after the alleged rapist’s relative complained that she sexually abused her minor son.

Local residents in Chhattisgarh's Ratanpur town observed 'bandh' after the arrest of the mother of a rape survivor/Representational Image

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Tension prevailed in Chhattisgarh’s Ratanpur town in Bilaspur district after the mother of a rape survivor was arrested by the police on a complaint lodged against her by the alleged rapist's relative, police said. As per a report by PTI, the arrest triggered ‘bandh’ in the town on Sunday by a large number of citizens, traders, and some Hindu organisations who condemned the arrest. 

The mother of the rape survivor was arrested two days back after the alleged rapist’s relative complained that she sexually abused her minor son, police said.

According to the case history, a 19-year old woman residing in Ratanpur, around 25 kms from Bilaspur district headquarters, had lodged a complaint against a local man for rape in March, after which he was arrested and sent to jail, said the police official, as per the PTI report. 

The victim and her mother were allegedly pressured by accused man’s uncle, who is a corporator, to withdraw the case against his nephew. The corporator reportedly threatened the mother-daughter duo of trapping them in a false case, he added.

"On May 19, one of the relatives of the accused lodged a complaint at Ratanpur police station against the rape survivor’s mother alleging that she sexually abused her 10-year-old son. Acting on it, the police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against the rape survivor’s mother and arrested her the same day," the official said.

On Saturday, several local residents reached the police station condemning the arrest and staged a protest while offering bangles to the police, the report added. 

Today, the  local citizens, traders and some Hindu organisations called a 'bandh', which was observed during the day.

Superintendent of Police Bilaspur, Santosh Singh said that the situation was under control and no incident of violence was reported, as per the news agency. 

"Considering the sensitivity of the situation, Ratanpur police station in-charge Krishnakant Singh was line-attached. I have also constituted a three-member team led by Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) and asked them to present its report within a week," he said.