Image Courtesy:indianculturalforum.in
The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) on August 6, 2021 demanded an investigation against police officials for their alleged “silent complicity” in the gang-rape of a minor girl from the Valmiki community in Delhi’s cantonment area.
After meeting the girl’s family, a delegation led by Brinda Karat, AIDWA Delhi General Secretary Asha Sharma and Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch leader Nathu Prasad appealed that the Delhi government revise its former compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs to the family. They demanded that the family be assisted in terms of rehabilitation, protection and legal recourse.
The Valmiki community has historically suffered caste discrimination. The victim of the Hathras sexual assault incident that shook the country last year was part of this community as well. Moreover, much like in the Hathras incident, here too, the 9-year-old girl’s body was forcibly cremated against her family’s will in Purana Nangal village. On the day of the incident, the girl went to get water from a cooler at the nearby crematorium.
There, the girl met the group of accused which included the crematorium priest. On learning of her fate, the girl’s parents went to the cremation ground with over a hundred villagers. The family lamented her death and unapproved cremation.
“What is even more shocking is that the priest claimed that the girl was cremated with her mother’s consent. This is a white lie, because the delegation learnt that in that particular village, young girls are buried and not cremated,” said AIDWA General Secretary Mariam Dhawale.
Further, the mother said the priest warned her not to report the crime and stick to the narrative that she was electrocuted while getting the water. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police detained the parents and allegedly manhandled the father instead of arresting the accused, said the AIDWA. Officials delayed the registration of an FIR against the four accused. Finally, they caved under the growing dissent by villagers.
“There are attempts to shield the culprits by the Delhi police, as is usually the case in incidents of violence against women,” said Dhawale.
After the cremation, only parts of the victim’s body were left. The doctors panel of Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital said it is difficult to ascertain whether or not the girl was sexually assaulted.
The AIDWA denounced the role of the Delhi police in this incident and condemned the deafening silence of the Union Home Minister, who leads the city police. Members also condemned the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister’s insensitive comment about the crime being ‘politicised.’
Related:
Nangal village gang-rape, both gendered and caste-based violence: Civil Society Organisations
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