‘Militia raped, shaved heads of 3 women’

Pro-government militiamen reportedly raped and shaved the heads of three women in the village of Karados in East Jebel Marra, North Darfur, on Thursday, 3 January. Witnesses recounted that the women were also insulted, humiliated and thrown in a valley after the attack.   Raping women and shaving their heads is part of a widespread campaign carried out by government forces and its militias against the people of East Jebel Marra, sources suggested to Radio Dabanga. On the same day, onlookers claimed seeing a government convoy of about 240 Land Cruisers traveling from Khazam Tinjur to the Al-Aradib Al-Ashara area what led them to flee to nearby farms. Locals also saw pro-government militias traveling to the Al-Aradib Al-Ashara area, reportedly looting and beating citizens on their way. The affected villages are: Arkotulah, Kartoum Djedib and Karaduz Mortal, they told Radio Dabanga. Besides the reported ground attacks, the Sudanese Air Force has shelled villages in the East Jebel Marra area on Thursday at 10am, onlookers affirmed. According to them, the regions of Sabi, Keira and Katour were hit. The bombings left 17 cows dead at the Bir keira village and 12 sheep and goats at the Al-Mashru village, local sources told Radio Dabanga.Radio Dabanga file photoRelated: SLM-AW:’air strike in East Jebel Marra kills 5′ (3 January 2013)