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Women in Birhandi village of West Bengal’s West Medinipur District lodged a complaint on Saturday with the Sub Divisional Officer (SDO) at Jhargram, accusing security personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) of sexually assaulting them. Corroborating their charges, several villagers claimed that paramilitary forces have tortured them during the anti-Maoist operation and they allegedly raped about ten women in the village. The women had staged mass protest demonstrations over last ten days and lamented that they didn't get help from the concerned authorities. Finally, they knocked at the doors of the SDO, the villagers contended. "Today, they all came to file a mass petition against the joint forces and has alleged that they have raped women in the village," said C Murugan, SDO, Jhargram. On July 20, about 10,000 women accompanied by young girls had staged a procession to voice their protest against these incidents. They demonstrated against alleged harassment by the personnel of paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on the pretext of flushing out Maoists. The rally, which was held under the aegis of 'Nari Izzat Bachao Committee' (Save Women's Prestige), consisted of women from around 50 villages, gathered outside the Sub Divisional Office and held their demonstration.

Women allege sexual assault by CRPF personnel in West Bengal village