A three-year-old girl was reportedly raped in Palma village, Gumla district, Jharkhand, prompting a village panchayat to impose a substantial fine on the accused instead of alerting the police, officials disclosed on Monday. The village body allegedly tried to suppress the case by demanding a total of Rs 1 lakh in fines from the alleged perpetrator.

An immediate payment of Rs 20,000 was reportedly collected from the accused, which was allegedly used to organise a feast featuring meat and liquor for the panchayat members who were present. The remaining Rs 80,000 was mandated to be paid within a week, indicating an attempt to resolve the situation internally without police involvement.

Police became aware of the situation through a tip-off and intervened before the case could be buried. They registered a First Information Report (FIR) and subsequently arrested the accused. An official reported that members of the village were attempting to settle the alleged crime within the confines of the panchayat.

Details of the Alleged Incident

The alleged crime occurred around 4 pm on Saturday when the accused, identified as Sunil Lohra, reportedly visited the residence of the minor. At that time, the child’s mother was present and was busy completing household chores. Lohra allegedly volunteered to care for the girl, allowing her mother to attend to her tasks.

According to police accounts, Lohra took the girl into a separate room where he allegedly assaulted her. The mother, alerted by her daughter’s cries, hurried into the room and found her child bleeding. Instead of contacting the police, the family purportedly brought the matter to the village panchayat.

As detailed in the official complaint, panchayat members first took the child to a local doctor. Subsequently, they convened a meeting on Sunday to discuss the situation, during which it was agreed to impose a fine as a means of resolving the alleged crime within the village community.

Police Action and Community Response

The alleged cover-up was exposed after an anonymous villager informed the police about the panchayat’s actions. Acting promptly on this information, a police team arrived in Palma village on Sunday. At the time of their arrival, a feast was reportedly underway, funded by the Rs 20,000 paid by the accused.

Authorities apprehended Lohra amidst the celebration, bringing an end to the village’s attempt to manage the situation privately. Statements were taken from the victim’s mother, providing crucial evidence for the case. Local police reiterated the importance of reporting such crimes without delay.

Lodo Ekka, the Mukhiya (village head) of the Arangi Panchayat, mentioned that he was unaware of the panchayat meeting until the police showed up. He expressed surprise at the actions taken by some villagers following the alleged rape and emphasised the necessity for transparency in such serious matters.

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