WOMEN – 2012 - Indian Social Institute

paraded in full public view and her hair cut off for an alleged extra-marital affair, she is yet to come toterms with the brutal harassment meted out to her. The police have arrested her husband, father-in-lawand brother-in-law along with 21 others villagers, several of them are members of the caste council thatsubjected her to torture at Brahmanon Ka Gula village in September last year. "Yet he woman's sufferinghas not ended as she continually faces abuse and indecent comments in the village of her parents, whereshe now lives. She was forced to leave her in-laws' house after the incident," said a close relative. Thewoman was married and has three children. She and her "boyfriend" faced the ire of a khap panchayat(caste council) in the Brahmin-dominated village for having an affair. In 2010, the woman had gone toMumbai with her husband who used to sell milk there. The young man, who happens to be cousin of herhusband, also went there and allegedly met the woman many times. The husband returned to the villageand accused the woman of having an extra-marital affair in front of the senior members of the panchayat,who then tortured her. The woman and her 22-year-old lover were thrashed, stripped half naked, paradedand then their hair was cut. An FIR against the members of the panchayat and in-laws of the woman wasregistered and the police arrested a total of 24 people in the case. "We had not received any complainteven from the woman's family members after the incident. Somebody showed us an MMS following whichthe FIR was registered," officer Parbat Singh said. However, it was alleged the police stood as a mutespectator when the woman was subjected to torture. The woman's relative told TOI she is presently livingin her parents' house at Mankiyavas village. "She wanted to live in her in-laws' house, but the villagersmade her life hell. Youths in the village kept treating her badly. She was forced to leave the village," saidthe relative. He added moving in with her parents has also not helped. "She is going through the sameharassment at her parents' village as well," he said. The woman and her alleged 22-year old lover werethrashed, compelled to sit half naked, then paraded and had their hair cut. An FIR against the membersof the panchayats and in-laws of the woman was registered and the police arrested a total of 24 people inthe case. "We had not received any complaint even from the woman's family members after the incident.Somebody showed us an MMS following which the FIR was registered," said investigating officer of thecase Parbat Singh. (Times of India 10/1/12)Rapes up in Mumbai, but there’s no word on molestation (8)Mumbai: The long arm of the law doesn’t appear to strike much fear in the hearts of criminals anymore.Numbers prove so. As per the recent statistics of crime in the city, released by the police on Tuesday,registered rape cases rose by 27 last year as compared to the 192 in 2010. Of the 219 rape casesregistered in 2011, 139 involve minors. The accused, a majority of which were parents, relatives, friends,acquaintances neighbours, were known to 206 victims. In total, the accused were apprehended oridentified in 209 cases. What are missing from the police’s statistics, though, are the figures formolestation cases. In 2011, 597 women were rescued from brothels in a number of raids held by the localpolice and the social service branch. During the rescue operations, 302 accused were arrested fortrafficking of women and 131 cases lodged thereafter. “Security is a priority but people must becomeresponsible,” said Himanshu Roy, joint commissioner of police, crime. Commissioner of police ArupPatnaik assured that there will be zero tolerance to crime against women, “The security of women in thecity is our top priority.” Although the police were quiet about the cases of molestation, Patnaik said thezonal deputy commissioners of police have been asked to take each case of molestation and eve-teasingseriously. “There are special teams that have been set up in the suburbs to deal with these problems,” headded.(DNA 11/1/12)Woman paraded naked: Rights panel seeks report (8)Satara: A day after a Dalit woman was assaulted and paraded naked in western Maharashtra, the state’sWomen Rights Commission on Thursday demanded stringent action against those were responsible forthe shameless act. Taking cognisance of the matter, the commission warned the local administration toact as soon as possible or be ready to face the charges of negligence of duty. The shocking incident tookplace in the Mulgaon village of Patan tehsil in Satara district, western Maharashtra when a group ofinfluential people assaulted and paraded Rekha Chavan, 42, naked after her son eloped with a girl from ahigh-caste family. Patan police later arrested Kisan Dattatray Desai (45), Hambirrao Bapurao Desai (39),Shantabai Kisan Desai (35), Vimal Vishwas Desai (32) and Sunita Hambirrao Desai (35) and bookedthem under Indian Penal Code sections 143, 149 (unlawful assembly), 354 (assault with intention tooutrage woman's modesty) and 324 (causing grievous hurt). The police, however, refused to confirm ifthe victim was paraded naked. After the incident, the Dalit woman was admitted to a hospital at Karad in