Kochi, March 8, 2013- A Catholic church in Kerala has banned the Suryanelli rape victim and her family from entering the church.
According to reports, the church situated in Kottayam district wants the pending case of the gang rape to be resolved before allowing the family to the church.
The sex scandal took place at Suryanelli in Idukki district in January 1996, when the then 16-year-old victim was threatened, abducted and abused by a bus conductor and was later confined and sexually assaulted for over 40 days by 42 men.
The case was back in the spotlight after the Supreme Court ordered a retrial in the case Jan 31, while setting aside the acquittal in 2005 by the Kerala High Court of all but one of the 35 accused convicted by a special court.
Last month, the victim approached police in Kottayam district, where she lives, asking for a fresh case against Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson PJ Kurien. The director general of prosecution was of the opinion that there was nothing new in her petition and a case could not be registered.
