Punishment for rape of 5-year-old: 5 sit-ups

A man charged with rape, was absolved of the crime, by the panchayat, after he was asked to do five sit-ups, as punishment for raping a five-year-old child.

According to a viral video, the incident occurred in Akbarpur area of Nawada district, Bihar. The man was brought before the local panchayat on charges of raping a minor girl. After hearing the charges, the panchayat decreed that he should perform five sit-ups as punishment, which he did in front of a crowd of men and women belonging to the village.

The victim’s father has stated that the culprit asked the victim to go with him, as he was to give her a chocolate. Instead, he took her to a secluded poultry farm and allegedly raped her. The victim’s parents were said to be reluctant to make the matter public, initially and complaint to the family of the rapist. However, later the family approached the panchayat to seek justice.

At the panchayat gathering, the village elders, after listening to both sides, decided not to hand over the accused to the police and pronounced their verdict. It was agreed there that the man was not guilty of rape and was only handed the punishment for taking the girl to a secluded spot.

"The family members of the minor were told not to register a police complaint against the accused and settle the matter by panchayat, as registering FIR will bring bad name to their families," according to a relative of the victim.

The police claimed that a case has been registered against the man after a complaint by the victim’s father that the man had inappropriately touch his minor daughter.