CHINIOT, July 7: A woman who was kidnapped and gang-raped as an act of revenge demanded justice on Thursday, saying her life had been ruined. Six men have been arrested in connection with the attack on the married woman and police said the accused would be sent to an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) for trial. “They savaged me for two days. They treated me like an animal,” the woman told Reuters at a police station in Chiniot.

“I pleaded with them to let me go as my life would be destroyed. I told them I was innocent but they didn’t listen. I want the men who kidnapped and raped me to be punished.”

She was attacked by eight men in late May because one of her male cousins had an affair with a woman whose father disapproved of the relationship, police said.

The father is among the six arrested men.

Violence against women is common in rural areas where tribal and feudal customs hold sway. Hundreds of women are raped or killed every year by men intent on exacting revenge and restoring honour after behaviour — by the woman or a male relative — deemed inappropriate in the society.

“I have heard about the Mukhtaran Mai case and how the president and government pledged to give her justice,” the latest victim said. “I want the same justice.”

“For me life is finished. I cannot show my face to anyone. I have told my father and husband it is better they kill me than allow me to live this life of dishonour and shame,” she said.

Police said they would charge sheet the accused in an ATC in four or five days.

“This is a grave crime and since it has spread fear in the area it will be sent to the ATC in Faisalabad for a speedy trial,” said district police official.

He said six of the eight suspects had been arrested. One suspect had absconded while one had turned himself in and been released on bail.—Reuters