Nishant Kumar Azad
Human Rights Defense (India) launched a campaign “Protect Dalit Women in West Bengal.” This demonstration was in response to a complaint by Shri Ranjan Sapui, husband of the Dalit women Shibani Sapui, a resident of village Adiwasi Para Amratalla, Police Station Basanti, West Bengal, regarding the physical abuse, torture, brutality and cruelty committed on his wife and also the subsequent deliberate inaction by the police on this matter. Demonstration was to shake the Government of West Bengal and to sensitise it regarding the plight of the Hindu Dalit Women in West Bengal. HRDI also demanded protection and justice to such victims of kidnapping and sexual brutality. Hindu Women are being raped, abused, harassed and kidnapped on regular basis in West Bengal which is a matter of concern for the nation.
Gopal Krishna Agarwal, Vice president (HRDI) and member of Society for Democracy and Justice said that Mamta Banerjee Government has to take a concrete step to protect dalit women, and to suspend those police officers who are aided and abated to the culprits. He said the girl was missing from March and yet no action has been taken, even FIR has not been registered. After going to the police station the victim’s father Shri Sujoy Mandal, got a reply from the police officer that the girl is 17, when she becomes 18 she will be returned to you.
Demonstration took place at “Banga Bhawan”, New Delhi on August 14. The Resident Commissioner of West Bengal Government took note of the grievances: Shri Ranjan Sapui, Shivani Sapui, Shri Sujoy Mandal and wife Ajuna Mandal and the delegation of HRDI, M.N. Krishnamani (president), Gopal Krishna Agarwal (V.P), Mr. Rajesh Gogna (Secretary general), Mr. Anil Arya of Arya Samaj, Ms. Bhawna Bajaj of Progressive Women Association. Mr. Guru Prakash of Dalit Sangam, Ms. Archana Mailik of HRDI with 100 of protestors assembled there for demanding justice for the victims.
