NEW DELHI: Democratic Women’s Association has demanded a probe by a sitting high court woman judge into the repression of women taking part in the movement for Uttarakh and in UP.
It demanded immediate action against the guilty officials. “There is anced for a quick political solution, and an end to police repression,” said an official at the AIDWA last week, two days after its five member team returned from a visit to the hills after meetings.
“We wanted to directly meet the women victims (particularly of the Rampur Tiraha incident),” said Ms. Brinda Karat, addressing a news conference last week with colleagues Kalindi Deshpande and Ranjan Nirula. The team, which spent three days travelling the hills in U. P., was “horrified and appalled.” Condemning the Mulayam Singh government, they are particularly upset with the reported statements of Ms. Mayawati, that such an incident had occurred.
Said a team member, “There is prima-facie evidence of sexual assault. Every rule in the book has been broken…involvement of district magistrate, additional district magistrate, senior superintendent of police.., “The political parties and a section of the local press have been insensitive. They have set standards which will make it difficult for women in public life…In (at least) one case, the name of a woman has been given as that of a rape victim, without any discussion. Nobody even met her.” It seems the women had fled with two male colleagues into the cane fields to escape the police; not only did the press describe her as a rape victim, some even said she was dead.
Even more shamefully, “nothing short of rape is considered sexual assault. We are appalled at the discussion being centered on whether “the women raped or only molested?” “We share the indignation of the women of Uttarakhand at the publication of their names in the Press without taking permission, this is a violation of the law,” said a member. The AIDWA has now appealed to the Press Council to intervene in this matter.
The AIDWA team came across countless stories of police brutality, and of alleged violation of human nights by police during the curfew. Perhaps the worst was the trauma of the busload of women caught at Rampur Tiraha earlier this month.
‘The bus was at the front of the convoy. From about 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. that night, the women were caught in “barbaric” police action against the agitator, According to one accounts, the police smashed all the vehicle headlights, The women rushed into their bus and locked the door. The police allegedly began pounding the vehicle from all sides, reportedly shouting Sexist abuse. Many began to cry. But maintained enough presence of mind to hide their three youngest colleagues under the bus seats.
The police their reportedly allegedly smashed windows, thrusting in lath is, demanding the door be opened. And it was. The policemen allegedly entered the bus, molesting and manhandling the women. The male agitators rushed to the rescue.
The police forced their way into the bus twice again. The second time, the police brought four other terrified women to the shelter of the bus, The third time, says the AIDWA team, a policeman drove the bus to the Muzaffamagar police station.
All through, and during the agitation, it was alleged there was no female police force.
Article extracted from this publication >> October 28, 1994
