A gang rape victim from Bardiya district has been threatened by the families of the men who had raped her in Katarniyaghat, India.

The 18-year-old complained she could not even attend the court hearing in Bahraich district of India because of the threat.

The woman was raped by five men on November, 2014. The accused— Shyam Dev Chaudhary, Kishun Chaudhary, Shyampal Chaudhary and Raju Chaudhary— are currently in police custody. They are being tried for rape at the Bahraich District Court. Another accused, Rajan Chaudhary, a minor, is facing trial at a juvenile court in Gonda.

The victim, a former Kamlari (indentured labourer), said the relatives of the men who raped have

threatened to kill her if she come before them.

“I have no idea what has become of the case,” she said, adding that she has already missed two court hearings.

Rupani Chaudhary, a social worker, said the woman and her family have been facing regular death threat from the defendants’ families.

“It started one year ago and they have not stopped. She and her family are too scared to go to the court in India. And there is also a problem of money. They do not have the financial wherewithal to fight the case,” said Rupani.

The victim’s brother said the father of one of the

perpetrators has been offering them money on a condition that they withdraw the case.

The local villagers have requested the government to create a favourable environment for the victim and her family to fight the case.