Has a Village Panchayat been given the powers to sentence someone to death? Even if that is true, is there no provision of appeal to higher Authority??
A Country where death to a Terrorist like Kasab takes over 4 years to be executed, a death to poor woman in Asyani village of Purnea district of Bihar was executed within 4 hours and that too by beating mercilessly on December 2.
Bibi Shahzadi, a 30 year old woman and a mother of 3 was mercilessly beaten to death in public by Asyani village members on the orders of  its Sarpanch (the legal head in a Village) Mohammad Ahmad.
Bibi Shahzadi was 4 months pregnant when she was punished to death. As per Law, the death sentence to Pregnant women has to be postponed until her delivery. But, there seems to be Indian law in Asyani village of Purnea . Or it appears that the Asyani village follows its own law.
The so called Indian Legal System woke up from Hibernation after the brothers of Bibi Shahzadi filed an FIR in the case against 10 people, including sarpanch Mohammad Ahmad and four women.
Bibi Shahzadi’s father Mohammad Hashim said that sarpanch (village head) Ahmad targetted Shahzadi as he wanted to take over her husband Mohammad Salim’s house.
“Ahmad defamed Shahzadi when she resisted his attempts to grab the house,” he said.
Bibi Shahzadi  had formed a self-help group in the village and was working with poor women to help them earn a living.
This all happened while Purnea Police Officers were busy walking the Red Carpet.  On the same day, Purnea district police, including the DIG, SP and several other Officers were walking the ramp  in the Police Idol programme  organised on the occasion of 150th anniversary of the foundation of Indian police.
Purnea Superintendent of Police Amit Lodha told IANS that police raided several places to arrest the accused, who are as yet untraced and on the run.
(Inputs provided by IANS)