Two days back, images of a man beating and kicking her daughter on the street of Bengaluru went viral and caused outrage on social media. Two young women, who intervened to save the 25-year-old, posted the images on Facebook. A policeman from Madurai beat his daughter “black and blue”, while at least 50 people on the street are simply watching it. He was taken to a police station but no complaint was filed as family reportedly said it was unnecessary. Some girl Nivedita and her friend rushed out of the car pushed the man back in an attempt to loosen his grip on the girl. He was grabbing the girl by her hair, slapping her, kicking her in the groin as she fell down on the road. Once freed, the girl sought refuge inside a car. The man sat down on the car bonnet, refusing to let them drive.
Rajaram, a sub inspector and his wife, who is a teacher supported her husband for beating a daughter and accused her of shaming the family. Parents had heard rumours of their daughter having an affair and was hence “teaching her a lesson” refusing to listen to her or believe her denying the affair. The father wanted to take her back to Madurai, against the wishes of the adult daughter and forcibly marry her to someone of their choice. Where we are lead? Honour killing, rape, domestic violence, domestic rapes and brutality towards girls have become routine practice in India. Government is claiming that they are bringing changes but social mindset remains unchanged.
In an average, in every five minutes one incident of domestic violence is reported in India, under its legal definition of “cruelty by husband or father or relatives”. The pervasiveness of domestic violence against women in Indian sub-continent is alarming.
Girl child is yet to be respected in some part of India. We are still living in male chauvinist country. Female foetus is aborted before birth or anyhow if she manages to take birth then other evil eyes are waiting her to grow up, rape, molest and murder. Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh are such great examples where woman cannot afford to live with dignity.
If you recollect, one such case in Badaun, due to police the girls could not get justice. Cruelty by police is not new thing but it should stop somewhere. The father of one of the two girls, who were gang-raped and killed in Uttar Pradesh’s Badaun district, lashed out at the government’s offer of compensation. He needs justice than the compensation. His daughters have gone through brutality and paying for their dignity is not enough. Rapist needs to be taught lesson. Unless and until, they are not awarded stringent punished, such incidences will not stop. His 15-year-old daughter and her 14-year-old cousin had gone missing from their home after they stepped out to relieve themselves. They could have been saved if Police acted promptly.
Law and order in some states have become a joke. They were abducted by some men from the village. Their bodies were found hanging from a tree in an orchard the next day. After too much pressure from media, Police arrested the fifth accused in the gang-rape case. We have fast track courts in India, just for the namesake, there also it takes two to three years for case in fast track courts. Two policemen are among the five arrested accused. They have been arrested for not acting soon enough on the complaint of the girls’ family. The family alleges that when they approached the local police for help, they refused to register a first information report, or a FIR, for hours. A case of rape and murder was reportedly registered only after angry villagers protested against the alleged police apathy. The family has demanded an independent inquiry into the case, alleging that they have little hope of justice from the Akhilesh Yadav-led state government since the accused belong to the same community as the chief minister. Though, the villagers claim to have lost faith in the UP police and the state government completely, they are determined to continue their fight for justice.
Though, it is not Women’s day nor is it gender discrimination or superiority but, just giving a high-five to all the girl friends and re-telling them the events happening in our country with a pinch of womanhood in them! Nirbhaya, Delhi gang rape victim is yet to get justice, rape cases are on the rise but none of the case is yet solved or culprits ever punished. Let it be Delhi, UP, MP or West Bengal. The rape cases are on the rise but yet no safety measures have been taken by the government. Recently, Mamata has been shining up in news following her claims of CPI(M) strategizing to kill her.
Many political leaders are escaping by giving various reasons on rape. No one understood, its girl’s life and dignity is at risk and verbal talk on the topic is not enough. With great faith, people have elected Modi and BJP government to power. Let see, how this ruling party at centre deals with rape cases and safe guard the interest of woman in this country.
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