Activists are crying hoarse that the government is turning a blind eye to the reported gang rape of 11 tribal women in Visakhapatnam and are demanding a probe by a sitting judge.
Meanwhile, the alleged victims are facing a double tragedy.
They are reportedly not being accepted back home because tribal custom requires the guilty to be brought to book and the women to be cleansed after that as per tribal rituals.
An effigy of Andhra Pradesh police chief M A Basith was burnt before the Visakhapatnam Collectorate.
The police chief had dismissed the reported gang rape of 11 tribal women allegedly by special party police personnel early on Monday as a ploy by Maoists to discourage the police from carrying out combing operations in the agency areas.
''We demand a probe by sitting judge. The hearings should be held in the village and not somewhere else,'' said a tribal woman.
''When they are labeling me, Pasiya Padma, a Maoist for protesting atrocities, they can so easily label anyone of these tribal women and men as naxals and arrest them,'' said an activist.
Activists say there was a deliberate delay in getting the alleged victims medically examined. Samples have also been sent to the Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Hyderabad.
''Not a single responsible official has gone there. They are making all these comments sitting elsewhere. Can any woman come out and seek justice in such circumstances,'' said D Prabhavati, AIDWA.
The police have refused to comment on camera but a rape case is booked by a government servant and also of prevention of atrocities against SC/ST.
Meanwhile, the alleged victims are facing a double tragedy.
They are reportedly not being accepted back home because tribal custom requires the guilty to be brought to book and the women to be cleansed after that as per tribal rituals.
An effigy of Andhra Pradesh police chief M A Basith was burnt before the Visakhapatnam Collectorate.
The police chief had dismissed the reported gang rape of 11 tribal women allegedly by special party police personnel early on Monday as a ploy by Maoists to discourage the police from carrying out combing operations in the agency areas.
''We demand a probe by sitting judge. The hearings should be held in the village and not somewhere else,'' said a tribal woman.
''When they are labeling me, Pasiya Padma, a Maoist for protesting atrocities, they can so easily label anyone of these tribal women and men as naxals and arrest them,'' said an activist.
Activists say there was a deliberate delay in getting the alleged victims medically examined. Samples have also been sent to the Forensic Sciences Laboratory in Hyderabad.
''Not a single responsible official has gone there. They are making all these comments sitting elsewhere. Can any woman come out and seek justice in such circumstances,'' said D Prabhavati, AIDWA.
The police have refused to comment on camera but a rape case is booked by a government servant and also of prevention of atrocities against SC/ST.
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