Protest against rape-murder attempt on tribal woman turns into communal clash in Asifabad
The protesting tribals pelted stones on religious structures and assaulted media personnel who were covering the protest, which soon turned into a communal conflict in Jainoor mandal headquarters
Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Tribals torched commercial establishments while protesting against an auto-driver’s attempt to rape and murder a tribal woman in Jainoor mandal centre, triggering a communal clash and tension on Wednesday.
Around 5,000 tribals belonging to several parts of the district gathered in Jainoor mandal centre as part of a bandh call given by various tribal rights organisations condemning the incident. They set the commercial establishments on fire, besides pelting stones on religious structures and assaulting media personnel who were covering the protest, which turned into a communal conflict in Jainoor mandal headquarters.
On Tuesday, the accused auto-rickshaw driver, Muqdum from Sonupatel village, was arrested for allegedly attempting to murder a 45-year-old tribal woman from Devuguda after trying to rape her at Raghavapur village in Jainoor mandal when she hired the three-wheeler to visit her parents at Soyamguda on August 31.
He left her on the road between Raghavapur and Soyamgudam village when she raised an alarm. He then hit her with a large stick in an attempt to kill her. He left her on the road when she lost consciousness, thinking she was dead. Some passersby noticed her and admitted her to a hospital in Sirpur (U) by summoning a 108 ambulance. She narrated the ordeal when she gained consciousness and her brother lodged a complaint with police on Monday.
The tribal rights organisations staged a rasta-roko in Jainoor mandal centre on Tuesday, demanding that the accused person be given capital punishment.
