BANGLADESH, India, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- A 20-year-old woman was tied to a tree in West Bengal, India, and gang raped as punishment for falling in love with a man from another religion, police said.
The woman, who was in critical condition in a local hospital due to blood loss, told police 10 to 12 men raped her after her family was unable to pay a fine as a penalty for her relationship with the man.
"The morol [village leader] ordered that I be 'enjoyed' by the men of the village. Following his orders, at least 10 to 12 people, including [some] members of a single family, continuously raped me. I lost count of how many times I was raped," the woman said.
When the woman was released from the ordeal, she was ordered not to tell police, NDTV reported Thursday.
West Bengal Gov. MK Narayanan said those responsible should be arrested and given corporeal punishment for the crime.
Police arrested the man with whom the woman allegedly had an affair, the Press Trust of India reported.
