The Congress-ruled state of Rajasthan is fast emerging as the Rapistan. Police resort to victim shaming and also reveals her identity in violation of legal norms.
– Agnima Sharma
Close on the heels of Alwar gang rape reported recently where police failed to take action on the complaint made by the rape victim, another case of gang rape has surfaced in Jaipur where a the victim immolated herself right in the police station to protest against police inaction to her complaint lodged on June 5, 2019. The rape victim was rushed to SMS hospital where she succumbed to burn injuries on Monday morning in the wee hours of the morning.
The police department, called a hurried press conference on July 29 evening, blaming the victim of having a consensual relationship with the accused which raised many questions on its working. Surprisingly, the police also revealed the identity of the woman in complete violation of legal norms which doesn’t allow naming the victim. The police inaction triggered a massive reaction across the city with traders shutting their shops and observing bandh and demanding the suspension of police officials.
The husband of the victim spoke to this correspondent and blamed the police machinery for his wife’s death. He says that she was harassed, tormented and insulted in one or the other way. Even after her death, she was shown no respect by the department who were quick to declare that she had consensual relation with the accused. The police in violation of legal norms have revealed her identity.
Meanwhile, the issue rocked the Rajasthan Assembly on July 30 as the Opposition BJP staged a walkout against the suicide of the rape victim.
Bandh observed in Jaipur
Meanwhile, different organisations of Rajasthan community observed bandh in many parts of Jaipur on Tuesday to protest the police dereliction in the case.
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Ashok Lahoti said, “If this is the plight of victims in the state capital who get no attention on police station, what might be the situation in the interiors? It seems that victims will stop going to lodge their complaints under fear and terror. I also ask police to look into the matter and then act, he said as police were quick enough to declare that it was a consensual affair without even the matter being probed.
The rape victim, a woman, wife of an ex-serviceman in Jaipur, set herself ablaze at the Vaishali Nagar police station, on July 28 demanding the arrest of the rape accused. The victim claimed that the suspect raped her after spiking her drinks filmed the act in 2015. After that, he had been blackmailing her and calling her to different locations. Even the ATM card of her husband was in his possession and he was spending money on his own terms and conditions. She had visited the police station many times to know the status of her complaint, which left her frustrated.
According to a press note issued by the police commissioner, the victim visited Vaishali Nagar police station around 3 pm with her son (13 years old) asking for Bothara. She was informed that he is out for some official task. She went and came back after 15 minutes, poured inflammable substance and immolated herself. She was rushed to hospital where she succumbed to her injuries at 4.45 am on Monday, said the police press note.
