Police and Hospital Turn Away a Rape Victim

Kolkata, West Bengal, July 27, 2012

Around 5 am on Wednesday, a 38-year-old victim was on her way to Chatterjeehut where she has been working as a domestic help for last 10 years. Like everyday, she took a shortcut below the bridge along Kona Expressway near Santragachhi railway station. Suddenly, someone pulled her from the back and she felt a blow on her nose immediately after. She was then dragged to a nearby bush, her earrings and nose ring were snatched and she was raped. The tormentor allegedly tried to strangle her to death, but the victim amassed the last bit of energy left in her and managed to free herself and escape from the rapist, a short man in a red T-shirt and black trousers.

The suffering of the victim did not end with the rape though.  She rushed to the Jagachha police station with a bleeding nose and scratch marks all over her face and neck. She informed the duty-officer that she was robbed and raped, narrated the entire incident and pleaded with him to file a rape complaint. Unmoved by the trauma the woman had experienced minutes ago, the officer registered a general diary (GD) and sent her home advising immediate hospitalization.

The victim’s sister said, “My sister raised an alarm. She requested a passer-by and two constables to catch the fellow. But they did nothing. At the hospital, officials refused to admit my sister saying that it is a police case. I then helplessly called a journalist. Once the news hit the television, things started moving fast. A police officer came and got her admitted and an FIR was lodged.”  Full report here

Police Graduate Arrested for Dowry Harassment and Violence

Vastrapur, Gujarat, May 16, 2012

Hiren Desai was arrested for dowry harassment a few hours after he graduated from the police academy.  Bhavana who was married to Hiren Desai, said that a year after her marriage her husband would beat her often because his family wanted more dowry from her parents.  Her in-laws started demanding that she give them Rs 25 lakhs to purchase a new house.  When she refused, all the members of her in-laws household began to beat her frequently. It appears at one point they through her out of the house.  Then Bhavana’s parents pleaded with the Desai family to take her back, as apparently so did the police!!  When the Desai’s refused to take her back, a report was filed and the arrest was made.  Report here

Police Constable Kills Daughter-in-law for Dowry

Kolkata, April 09, 2012

Raj Kumar Pandey, a police constable, along with his son, daughter and wife, poured kerosene on 25-year-old Anushka,  the daughter-in-law, and set her on fire because her parents did not meet their demands for more dowry in gold and a motorcycle.   Anuska died in the hospital. Report here.

Policeman Kills Wife For Dowry

Kendrapara, Orissa, July 14, 2011

Ranjita Sahu, 26, was  murdered by her cop husband and his parents for failing to bring home Rs 50,000 as dowry. The victim, who got married in 2009, was  being tortured both physically and mentally by her husband and in-laws. The victim’s parents, who are poor, failed to meet their dowry demands, the police said quoting the written complaint.  Read the report.