Women not safe in Bihar, says NCW team

Patna, Aug 17 (IANS) A National Commission for Women (NCW) team Friday said women are not safe in Bihar and after probing the alleged gangrape of a Class 11 student here described the situation as "serious".

"Crimes against women including rape, gangrape, sexual harassment and molestation are reported regularly," Charu Walikhanna, an NCW member, said here.

She met Bihar police chief Abhyanand to inquire about the progress of the police probe into the gangrape.

All the six accused have been arrested. The alleged incident took place at Rajvanshi Nagar of Patna June 14, but it was not reported till the end of July.

The accused allegedly videographed the rape and circulated its CDs and MMS among friends, police said.

A complaint was filed by the Bihar Commission for Women after opposition parties and activists took out a candle march and held a vigil to highlight the case.

In her statement to both the women's commission and the police, the girl stated that she was gangraped.

Two groups of girls from Gaya and Rohtas districts, who are victims of sexual harassment, met Walikhanna. "These girls complained about the local police. They said that they ran from pillar to post for justice, but the police have not initiated any action against them the accused," Walikhanna said.

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