June 8, 2004 – (Kathmandu Post) Following the brutal assault on the elderly and children, and the rape of more than 12 women by a group of armed bandits posing as security personnel on Wednesday night, the villagers of Srinagar of Hattisarwa head for neighboring Bishwamvarpur VDC every evening to spend the night.

The victims said that the armed group claimed to be searching for Maoists, supposed to have entered the village after torching the police post at Ramgopalpur.

The bandits had raided the Musahar and Chamar tribes’ residential areas armed with guns, pistols and other weapons and terrorized the villagers around midnight. Although more than 12 women were raped that night, the villagers kept mum about the case. More than two-dozen villagers were injured in the incident.

"They kicked me with heavy boots", said Biltu Sada one of the victims. "They put a knife against the neck of my daughter-in-law and threatened to kill her", said Gayatri Devi, who was raped by the assailants.

Due to excessive poverty, the youth and men-folk of the area have left for Punjab and other Indian cities seeking employment, leaving only the elderly and the women in the village.

From: http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=12824