Rape of an Anglo-Indian woman in a moving car should serve as an eye-opener for the society and law-enforcement agencies in Kolkata. It was shocking to see our Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, despite being a lady opine that this rape case was a concocted story to malign her government. In this three-part article series, let us use this opportunity to delve on the preventive measures that must be followed to at least reduce the occurrence of this heinous crime that not only torments the victim physically but also kills her psychologically.
THE RECENT incident of a woman being sexually assaulted and raped at midnight while coming out of a nightclub in the Park street area, no longer makes us suffer bolt from the blue. Exactly one year ago a brother lost his life while trying to save his sister from the hands of drunken goons and hoodlums in Barasat. The incident had taken place near the bungalow of the Superintendent of Police. The sister had desperately cried for help but all her tears went in vain as the police guards did not take prompt action. Her brother died suffering physical injuries.
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As per media reports, in the present incident of car- rape case also police initially passed value judgement and indulged in moral policing. The FIR was not lodged immediately. In spite of much advertised ‘paribartan’ –change in the state of West Bengal it has become increasingly difficult for women to travel alone especially at night. Crime against women whether in the form of rape, abduction, eve-teasing and molestation has rampantly increased in the state of West Bengal.
What is more shocking is the way in which such cases of assault on women are handled by the politicians and law-enforcement agencies. The woman who claims to bring ‘paribartan’ in the state of West Bengal is of the opinion that this particular car-rape case story was concocted with an aim to malign her government. It is an irony that two decades ago same politician had carried a mentally retarded rape victim to the corridors of power to seek justice from the erstwhile left front government.
It may be pointed out that Bharuada Boginbhai Hirjibhai vs. State of Gujarat, AIR 1983 SC 753 clearly states: ‘A girl or a woman in the traditional bound non-permissive society of India would be extremely reluctant even to admit that any incident, which is likely to reflect on her chastity had ever occurred. She would be conscious of the danger of being ostracized by the society or being looked down upon by the society including by her own family members, relatives, friends and neighbours. She would face the risk of losing the love and respect of her own husband and near relatives, and her matrimonial home and happiness being shattered. If she is unmarried, she would apprehend that it would be difficult to secure an alliance with a suitable match from a respectable family or an acceptable family. In view of these and similar factors the victim and relatives are not too keen to bring the culprit to book. And when in the face of these factors the crime is brought to light there is a built-in assurance that the charge is genuine rather than fabricated’.
Rape is a heinous crime committed against women. It is an act which violates the integrity and dignity of not only womanhood but humanity itself. From the sociological perspective, rape is a form of violence perpetrated by the powerful on the weaker sex, in a patriarchal society. In such a society women are regarded as a form of property to be controlled and dominated by men. According to Susan Brownmiller, rape is not about individual acts of male violence but about a system of male control of women…it is not about momentary loss of control, but is about male aggression and patriarchy. Thus the act of rape connotes a basic weapon of maintaining power upon a woman by the use of force.
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Well didibhai I am aged years and a father of a daughter of that age writing you thisThe case is not so simple as it is being projected If you visit park street after PM I heard that you will find girls standing on the pillars and their men folk trying to loo customer Many raids have found school girls and college girls in this business from well to do families just to raise money to maintain their purse In front of museum I was even approached at PM when I decided to walk down due to non availability of bus service The young man was even producing the photo of the girl without dress and explaining me that she is coming from an advanced familyNow again as a lady when you know such business is going in and around park street will you dare to go there at dead of a night and that also alone Just think maFinally Let us re cast the case Say you are posted at the police point You have seen this lady earlier with other men going in hotel room and coming out Why You guess it So when she comes and complains after days what will you think Got paid for one but used by many Am I wrongFinally I have written to many news paper I am writing here also Behala is too far from Park Street Why did she go and remained late Secondly she is divorced and unemployed therefore how is she has the capacity to visit a costly night club plus maintaining her children and herself If she is a rich mans daughter definitely she should have a car but does not have ThenSo is it wrong for the police to whom she has reported after three days feels that she is a pro No one is talking about this aspect
