Rape victim immolates herself out of frustration

A married woman immolated herself on Thursday in frustration after a kangaroo court asked a young man who allegedly raped her to seek her forgiveness instead of punishing him in Malda district.

The woman, a mother of two children, died at the Malda Medical College and Hospital after battling for life since Tuesday when she was allegedly raped by the young man, Rabindra Mondal, when her husband was away from home at Basantatola village, police sources said.

Earlier, her husband had approached the kangaroo court and demanded punishment for the alleged rapist, but it merely directed that he seek forgiveness from the victim, the sources said.

Frustrated, the woman doused herself with kerosene and immolated herself, they added.