03-West Bengal Report.pdf - People's watch

Case Details:
FF Code : W.B./ MON (Susmita Roy Choudhury) /
24 PGS(S)/ April-14/04/2007/Sl.No.-49
Victim(s) : Madhuri Byapari
Perpetrator(s) : 1) Unnamed OC, Ghutiari Sharif Police
Out Post; 2) Ram Kumar Mondal, OC,
Canning PS
Location : Ghutiari Sharif Police Out Post; Canning PS
Date of incident : 14/01/2007
Victim Madhuri Byapari, age 19, had an affair with Pradip Poddar that their family members did
not accept.
On 17 November 2006, Madhuri Byapari went to Pradip Poddar’s house. There, Pradip
Poddar’s family members beat Madhuri and demanded money and valuables from her as a
dowry. They compelled Madhuri Byapari to work at their family linen-wrapping business. At
night, Pradip Poddar would exploit Madhuri Byapari sexually, without marrying her legally.
On 14January 2007, Madhuri Byapari returned to her parents’ house. Her mother, Hasi
Byapari, lodged a complaint against Pradip Poddar’s family members at the Ghutiari Sharif
Police Outpost; however, the OC there did not register any case and instead threatened to
register a case against Hasi Byapari and her family. Further, the OC told Hasi Byapari that a
case had already been registered against her family.
Hasi Byapari approached the local Panchayat Office and Club to resolve the matter, but no one
would initiate any action; instead, they cast aspersions on Madhuri Byapari’s character.
Finally Hasi Byapari went to Canning PS with members of Garan Bose Gram Bikash Kendra,
a local NGO. However, OC Ram Kumar Mondal told them to take their concerns to SDPO
Niladri Sekhar Chakraborty as a written complaint. The OC then suggested that they negotiate
their problems with Pradip Poddar’s family in his presence and that of local members of the
CPI(M) Party.
Now, Madhuri Byapari is living in mental agony. Local leaders and members of the CPI(M) are
making her life miserable by insulting her character. They have pressured Hasi Byapari to
arrange the marriage of her daughter as soon as possible.
West Bengal
145
Annual Report on Torture
2007