Bhatta-parsaul: With just a few months to go for the Uttar Pradesh elections, the lanes of Bhatta-parsaul village are alive again with village women seeking justice. The government's FIR against 16 policemen almost six months after the alleged rapes took place seems top have emboldened them to finally speak out.
This 35-year-old woman and a mother of three claims that she was raped during the anti-land acquisition agitation by farmers in Bhatta-parsaul village.
The alleged rape victim said, "Until they don't get punished we will speak out. And until they don't release our men we will continue fighting for our rights."
However, the fight for justice will be a difficult one as none of the women have had their medical test done immediately after their alleged rape. Infact not one FIR was filed following the incident several months ago. These allegations started surfacing only after Congress General secretary Rahul Gandhi claimed that women had been raped and men murdered.
The National commission for women in their preliminary report had stopped short of calling it rape but in their final report concluded that there is evidence that seven women were raped. Adding more pressure on the Mayawati government, the National Commission for SC/ST (NCSC) warned of initiating contempt proceedings unless the Uttar Pradesh police took immediate action.
Another rape victim said, "I was alone at home when one man forcibly entered my house. Another man stood at the door and around six to seven men were standing outside. He threatened to kill me if I said anything to anyone. I begged him not to do anything to me but he still beat me."
Kela Devi's, 80, worst fear is that all four of her sons who are in Dasna jail on charges of causing violence will never return Its a lonely Diwali for her.
However, for opposition parties especially the Congress this issue is a light with which they hope to blow Mayawati's chances of returning to power again.
No comments:
Post a Comment