Announcement: Our news blog is moving

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Just in case you are a subscriber to this blog please note The 50 Million Missing Campaign is consolidating all its blogs.  All our future reports for this blog will be posted in the Gender Equal blog.  We suggest you subscribe to that blog by clicking here. Thanks much for your support!

The 50 Million Missing Campaign Team

60% of Nurses in India’s Biggest Hospital are Victims of Domestic Violence

New Delhi, August 16, 2012

A recent study on the prevalence of domestic violence suffered by the nurses at AIIMS (The All India Institute of Medical Sciences) in Delhi, showed that close to 60% of the nurses were subject to some form of domestic violence.  The study, authored by Kamlesh Kumari Sharma and Manju Vatsa of the AIIMS College of Nursing and published in the Indian Journal of Community Medicine, states that physical and sexual violence affects the nurses’ physical and mental health and leads

Film Fraternity Rushes To Protect Wife-Beating Indian Actor

Bangalore, Karnataka, September 14, 2012

Popular Kannada actor Darshan, who habitually abused his wife, burning her with cigarette stubs, threatening to kill her and her baby, and battering her so violently she had to be hospitalized, was jailed for spousal battery.  However he was freed after he had the public and The Karnataka Film Producers Association (KFPA) rush to rescue him.  While the public continues to dote on their super star, refusing to accept the wife’s statement, the Film Fraternity has been pressurizing the wife to “reconcile” with her husband. Full report here

Also read “Support to wife-beater Darshan exposes our Warped Value System”

Indian Judge Advices Battered Wife to “Adjust” to her Abuse

Pune, Maharashtra, September 02, 2012

A 28-year-old woman who had left her husband’s house, unable to bear his battering any more was told by the judge to return to him.   When the case came up before the court, instead of granting her a divorce, the wife was advised by Justice K Bhaktavatsala of the High Court of Karnataka to adjust to her abuse. He said, “Women suffer in all marriages. You are married with two children and know what it means to suffer as a woman. Why are you still talking about his beatings? I know you have undergone pain. But that is nothing

Woman Tortured and Sexually Assaulted By Her Husband and His Brother

Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu, September 05, 2012

25-year old woman Guru Eswari who was periodically tortured by her suspicious soldier-husband has been lying in a hospital bed in Thoothukudi for nearly a month recovering from wounds inflicted on her, by her husband and his brother.

Guru Eswari’s husband and his brother stripped and sexually tortured her, by inserting things like chilli powder and a hot iron rod inside her genitals, and then later stripped and tortured Guru Eshwari’s mother the same way.

So far the police have not arrested her husband and his brother husband, who is a Lance Naik in the Indian Army or his brother.    Read the newspaper report here

Read the full account of Guru Eswari’s story as told via a journalist to (MASES) The Movement Against Sexual Exploitation and Sexism by clicking here.

Girls Wearing Jeans Threatened with Acid Attacks

Ranchi,  Bihar, August 07, 2012

Handwritten posters, put up by Jharkhand Mukti Sangh at several points in the city, including St. Xavier’s College and Albert Ekka roundabout, read: “From 20/8/2012 (Aug 20), jeans have been banned for girls. Any girl will be found wearing jeans and moving without dupatta (scarf covering the top of the body) will be attacked with acid.”  Full report here

Women in Kashmir Threatened with Acid Attack for Not Wearing Veil

Kashmir, August 13, 2012

Women in Kashmir have been threatened with acid attacks if they don’t cover their face with a veil, and with being shot if they are seen using mobile phones.

A public notice from the Lashkar e al Qaeda declared: “We appeal to the public that they ensure that their women observe purdah [covering heads and faces] in public places. If we spot any woman without purdah, we will sprinkle acid on her face. If we spot any girl using [a] mobile phone, she will be shot dead.”  Full report here