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Authorities in Garo Hills area of Meghalaya have provided the 18-year-old victim of gangrape an interim cash compensation of Rs 25,000.
The compensation was handed over to the victim by East Garo Hills District Deputy Commissioner Vijay Kumar Montri in the hospital. The state government is bearing the entire cost of medical treatment of the girl.
The girl, who is still in a state of trauma, is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital.
She was sexually assaulted and brutally tortured by a group of young men on December 13 when she was on her way back home after attending celebrations at a local tribal festival. One of the attackers had tried to kill her after she recognised him, but she managed to survive.
According to an official source, 16 people had been named in the FIR filed in the case. The police have arrested 15 of them. Eight of the arrested accused were minors and they were sent to a juvenile home. The remaining accused have been sent to police custody.
As per the newly-enacted Meghalaya Victims Compensation Act, which was passed in the state assembly on August 31, there is a legal provision for compensation of up to Rs 50,000 to a rape victim.
Under the provisions of the Act, while rape victims are eligible for compensation of up to Rs 50,000 , women and child victims of human trafficking and kidnapping etc are eligible for compensation of up to Rs 25,000.