Delhi gang rape: Cops thrashed us, claim teen protesters
TNN | Dec 26, 2012, 03.49 AM IST
NEW DELHI: The fury of Delhiites over the Munirka bus gang rape shows no signs of abating. A few female protesters, mostly teenagers who claim they were detained at Parliament Street police station on Tuesday, alleged they were unsafe even in the company of law enforcers.
With fear writ large on their faces, more than a dozen women complained they were thrashed by police.
"We were protesting at Jantar Mantar when a few girls came asking for help. Their friends were being dragged away by cops," said Usha Saxena, a woman who claims she was detained. "We rushed to help them and we were also pulled away. Inside the police station, we were beaten up by police." Saxena said her daughter was dragged by the hair and badly beaten up by police. The group of protesters said they were detained when they decided to carry out a peaceful march from Jantar Mantar to Parliament Street.
Police confirmed they detained 17 women and girls and five men at Parliament Street police station for about 45 minutes under Section 65 of the Delhi Police Act. "We initially detained 13 girls and four were detained later. They were allowed to go after their details were noted down and they had given an undertaking," an officer said.
Meanwhile, protesters at Jantar Mantar said that their movement against atrocities on women is being gradually sidelined by the government in favour of other issues. They said there was a deliberate attempt to discourage people from protesting peacefully by restricting their mobility. These individuals said they are saddened by the death of constable Subhash Chand Tomar but that will not stop them from demanding reform or protesting against 'Nirbhaya's gang rape. On Tuesday, several groups came to Jantar Mantar but their movements were restricted and they felt anxious about how the movement was shaping up. "People are being given a small space in Jantar Mantar that is barricaded on both sides. Protesters are not even allowed to march nonviolently. India Gate is now out of bounds. Nor are we allowed to go to Connaught Place for purpose of protest. The protest has clearly been hijacked by political groups such as Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, National Students Union of India, Aam Aadmi Party and Baba Ramdev," Mohit, a merchant navy officer, said.
Saxena felt the authorities are trying to distract people from the protest by highlighting the constable's death. "Do not get me wrong. There is anger at the constable's death. What has happened to the real issue? We want action on sexual harassment and gang rape of the girl. The intent of the government is not clear. People like DCP Neeraj Kumar and home minister (Sushil) Shinde should keep quiet and come out with hard measures," she said.
Several felt the government should act according to suggestions of civil rights groups. The All-India Students' Association wants a special session of Parliament to enact laws against rape and sexual violence, set up fast track courts for all sexual violence cases, implement gender sensitization at all police stations, set up a separate ward for care for rape victims and make gender equality a part of the school curriculum.
"I think there are several groups who are not sure of what they want. For instance, I heard some protesters saying police ko chudiya de do. This comment is an insult to women. There is nothing wrong with wearing bangles. Many groups are also associating sexual assault with patriotism. We are not here to talk about how women are mothers, sisters or daughters to people. I think the focus should be on sexual harassment and policing," Subhashini, a student of JNU, said.
Some accused police of beating up nonviolent protesters on Sunday. "We were all at India Gate on Sunday. Nonviolent protesters were beaten up very brutally by police. They also used sexist language against women. My neighbour, who is 50, has a broken ankle from the lathi-charge," Aakriti, a DU student, said. She added that the groups who were violent belonged to political parties.
"What is the PM talking about? He says that he understands the gravity of the case because he has three daughters. I don't think his daughters will ever face the same problems as common people," Anamika, another DU student, said.
Many groups also came to Jantar Mantar to highlight cases of abduction and sexual assault. Navrupa and Navjit came to protest the abduction of their 11-year-old sister, Navruna, from their home in Muzzafarpur, Bihar, in September. "We are here because we think it's time to hold the government to account for lack of security for our girls and women," Navjit said.
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