Anjana to Anjali: Women continue to be unsafe in State

BHUBANESWAR: Cases related to violence against women are on the rise in the State. There are several cases coming up every day in media, but no exemplary steps have been taken by the State machinery to end the vicious trend. Except big issues of violence against women, the Opposition is also maintaining silence over the issue.

From Anjana gang-rape to Itishree murder case and Mahanga’s Anjali harassment case, there are thousands of cases related to atrocities against women, which created a lot of hue and cry in the State, but what are the end results of these cases? The State Government’s silence was clearly reflected when leader of the Opposition staged dawn- to- dusk dharna in the well of Odisha Assembly, demanding only a statement on Itishree murder case.

It is really surprising that peoples’ representatives have to struggle so hard to get a statement from the Chief Minister, who is accountable to the people of the State. Resentment is brewing among the people of the State after witnessing the deteriorating condition of law and order in the State which directly affects two vulnerable groups, children and women in the society.

Question is- when will the State Government wake up from its deep slumber after experiencing hundreds of heinous cases of violence against women?

According to the fresh data given by Women and Child Development Minister in the Assembly, a total of 9,949 women were sexually assaulted within 10 years. Out of the 704 complaints lodged with the State Commission for Women (SCW), reports of investigations into 202 cases are yet to be submitted before the Commission.

Within last two years, people of the State have seen several cases of violence against women, but how many cases have been taken seriously by the State-owned police department?

After strong demonstration and dharna by the social organisations, continuous follow up of media and sharp criticism from the Opposition party, the State Government expresses its willingness to take up the cases seriously.

Several sensational cases from Pipili gang-rape case, Madhabilata’s mysterious death case, rape and murder cases of Chandanpur girl, Titilagarh woman, Marine drive blind girl, Salia Sahi minor girl, Mahakalpada minor girl, Kisan Nagar woman, Bhubaneswar disable girl, Tigiria gang-rape to Itishree harassment and murder, the list is endless. However, the Government’s lack of seriousness in taking the right steps to punish the perpetrators and stop the trend is quite discomforting.

On Friday, The Pioneer had given a front page story headlined ‘Another Itishree who escapes from being burnt’ about a single helpless woman Anjali Pradhan whom her rival group had attempted to burn alive, but she slightly escaped from being burnt.

On Saturday, a Dalit woman from Dhamnagar in Bhadrak district alleged that a cop assaulted her sexually in front of her husband. The cop and chairman of Dhamnagar block were allegedly involved in the crime. On Sunday, another minor Dalit girl of Danarmund village under the Marshaghai police limits was battling for her life at the SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack after being gang raped.

Mahanga’s Anjali was allegedly misbehaved and manhandled by the police of her locality when she went for justice and Bhadrak’s Dalit girl was raped by the cop in the second case. When fences devour crop, who will protect the latter?

Another important thing is involvement of peoples’ representatives of the ruling party in different women related crimes including Pipili gang-rape case, Madhabilata case and Itishree murder case. In Itishree case, the Crime Branch is still searching for the culprit who set her on fire on October 27. In the three high-profile cases, the National Commission for Women (NCW) criticised the State Government and also raised questions about the State Crime Branch’s fair probe in these cases. Even the NCW supported the demands of social organisations and peoples’ representatives to go for CBI probe in these cases, but the State Government sidelined the demands of people and recommendation of the NCW. Why the State Government is unwilling for CBI probe in the cases?

If the State Government fails to take any exemplary steps to stop the violence against women, it is sure to face wrath of the people which has already been reflected earlier.

Published in English daily The Pioneer on December 17, 2013