हैदराबाद और उन्‍नाव के बलात्कार और हत्याओं के खिलाफ WSS का बयान

हैदराबाद और उन्‍नाव के बलात्कार और हत्याओं के खिलाफ WSS का बयान

6 दिसम्बर 2019 को तेलंगाना पुलिस ने चार निहत्थे लौरी मज़दूर जिनकी उम्र 20 से 24 साल की थी को उस जगह अपनी गोलियों से मौत के घाट उतार दिया जहां उन्होंने कथित रूप से एक हफ्ता पहले एक 26 साल की महिला के साथ सामूहिक दुष्‍कर्म कर उसकी हत्या की थी। ठीक इसी दोपहर उन्‍नाव की एक 23 साल की महिला जो पिछले साल अपने साथ हुए सामूहिक बलात्कार के अ‍पराधियों की पहचान के लिये रायबरेली कोर्ट में गवाही के लिये जा रही थी। इन अभियुक्तों में से एक को गिरफ्तार किया जा चुका था परंतु ठीक जिस दिन कोर्ट में सुनवाई होनी थी उसके एक हफ्ते पहले ही वह जमानत पर छूट चुका था। यह लड़की उस दिन कोर्ट पहुंच ही नहीं सकी क्योंकि उसे रास्ते में ही पांच आदमियों ने ज़िंदा जला डाला। जिनमें से दो उसके बलात्कार के भी अभियुक्त थे। और उनमें से एक वही था जिसे कुछ दिनो पहले ही ज़मानत मिली थी। आग की लपटों से जलती हुई वह एक किलोमीटर का रास्ता तय करके अस्पताल पहुंची। उसका 90 फीसदी शरीर जल चुका था। दो दिन के भीतर ही उसने अपना दम तोड़ दिया। जिस समय उसकी मौत हुई ठीक उससे पहले हैदराबाद के लोग युवा पशुचिकित्सक के कथित चार बलात्कारियों की पुलिस कस्टडी मे हुई हत्या का यह कहकर जश्न मना रहे थे कि ‘न्याय’ हुआ है।

WSS Statement Against the rapes and murders in Hyderabad and Unnao

December 9, 2019

WSS Statement Against the rapes and murders in Hyderabad and Unnao

On December 6, 2019 four unarmed men – lorry workers aged between 20 and 24 – were killed by the Telangana police at the spot where they were suspected to have gang-raped and killed a 26-year old woman just over a week ago. That same afternoon, a 23-year old woman from Unnao who spoke out against being gang-raped in December last year, was on her way to the Raebareli court to testify against her rapists. One of the men she had accused of raping her had been arrested but was let out on bail just a week before her most recent court hearing. She never made it to court that day, because she was set ablaze by five men en route. Two of these five men were her accused rapists. One of them was the same person who had been let out on bail just days before. After walking a kilometre, still aflame, she was taken to hospital, her body battling 90% burn injuries. In less than two days she succumbed to her injuries. Just before she died, people in Hyderabad were celebrating the killing of the four men who had allegedly raped the young veterinarian doctor, by the police while they were in custody, crying out that “justice” had been served.

Zulm, Zakhm, Azaadi … The Voices of Kashmiri Women

Press Release

Zulm, Zakhm, Azaadi … The Voices of Kashmiri Women

Today is sixty days of the clampdown in the Kashmiri Valley.

A four-member team from Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS) (Kiran Shaheen, Nandini Rao, Pramodini Pradhan and Shivani Taneja) visited Kashmir Valley from September 23-28, 2019. The aim was to interact with people, especially women and children, to listen to their voices and understand the present conditions since the abrogation of Article 370 by the Indian government.

The team traveled across the districts of Srinagar, Shopian to the South and Kupwara and Baramullah to the North. We were able to speak to people of various walks of life – older and younger women stuck in their homes, school teachers, hospital functionaries, hawkers, scrap-dealers, roadside vendors, shopkeepers, orchard owners, taxi drivers, auto drivers, lawyers, journalists, activists and school and college students. We visited villages and mohallas as well as schools, courts and hospitals. The visits were made at random and were not guided by anyone. We consider the views we share as being fully independent.

A System of Injustice – The Displacement and Impoverishment of Pardhis in Multai, Madhya Pradesh

On 9 September 2007, Pardhidhana, a locality in Chouthiya village in southern Madhya Pradesh was razed to the ground by hundreds of local farmers. Several members of the state machinery, including the police and higher administration, stood by as men rampaged through Pardhidhana setting fire to the shanties and demolishing the pucca houses after looting them. Several politicians, including the sitting MLA of the region took an active part in the proceedings.

Within hours of the demolition, two sets of heinous crimes had occurred: in one, two people, Bhondru and Dodelbai of Pardhidhana were found murdered in cold blood, and eyewitnesses alleged the gang rape of Dodelbai as well; in another, ten women alleged that they had been held back when the police forcibly evacuated Pardhidhana before the demolition, and had subsequently been gang raped. While the murders of Dodelbai and Bhondru have been investigated, only one person has been charged with both the crimes!

Based on the fact finding and a close analysis of the CBI charge sheets, what emerges is a systematic mis-carriage of justice. Despite fair judgements by the High Court, the displaced Pardhis have been systematically impoverished. This report details the many ways in which this has occurred.

To get a copy of the report, click here

For a copy of the report in Hindi, click here

Take back the President’s Police Medal of Gallantry awarded to Ankit Garg

On 26th January last year, IPS officer Ankit Garg who was charged with sexual assault of Soni Sori, was conferred the President’s Police Medal of Gallantry. Conferring this award amounts not only to condoning the sexual torture inflicted on Ms Sori and the violence which is being perpetrated in the name of anti-Naxal operations, but actually encouraging it. Today, when the nation’s conscience is stirred by heinous sexual crimes committed against women and the government is promising zero tolerance for sexual crimes, what signal does a gallantry award to Ankit Garg give?  At best it means that even the President’s office does not take too seriously the complaint of sexual assault of an adivasi woman, even after it has been independently verified by some of the nation’s best medical practitioners.  At worst, it signifies that some sexual assaults are not only tolerated by the government, but also decorated.

A year on, the campaign to withdraw the medal continues. Below is a letter to the President of India, demanding for its withdrawal together with a signature campaign. Read on and join in!