Outrage in India, tragically, often hinges on the social standing of the victim. Violence against women is abhorrent and inexcusable, yet the collective conscience of the nation barely stirs if the survivor is from a marginalised community – be it Dalit, Adivasi, Muslim or Christian.
As the country takes to the streets in justified fury over the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old woman doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024, two recent cases of rape involving minor Dalit girls in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been met with a deafening silence. These brutal crimes, reported after the Kolkata tragedy, have failed to ignite the same level of public outrage.
This glaring disparity forces us to confront a disturbing truth: Where is the outrage when the victims are Dalit women? Why is their suffering met with indifference? This is a shameful reflection of how deeply entrenched casteism and discrimination remain in our society.
Bihar: Minor Dalit girl abducted, gang-raped and killed
An unprecedented low in Bihar’s deteriorating law and order situation was reportedly reached when a 14-year-old Dalit girl was kidnapped from her home, gang-raped, and killed in the Muzaffarpur district. The girl, a Class IX dropout, was forcibly taken away on the night of August 11 from her house in Paroo police station area in the presence of her parents. On the morning of August 12, a Monday, her body was discovered in a pond, partially nude. Her body was covered in several wounds and bloodstains, and she had her mouth taped shut.
Speaking to the media, the girl’s mother spoke about the incident by stating “Five persons, including a person called Sanjay Rai, abducted my daughter on Sunday night threatening to rape her. We could do nothing out of fear. We found her body next morning in a pond outside our village”. The mother of the minor deceased girl said that accused Rai, who was already married, had been harassing her daughter to get married to him. “He threatened to kill her when we refused,” she said.
Satyahindi.com carried reports of the murder-rape in Muzaffarpur rightly focussing on it along with the Bengal crime.
A 14-year-old #Dalit girl was allegedly abducted from her house, gang-raped and killed in #Muzaffarpur district, marking a new low in the deteriorating law and order situation in #Bihar.
The girl, a Class IX dropout, was forcibly taken away on Sunday night from her house in… pic.twitter.com/TagrRklWUk
— Hate Detector 🔍 (@HateDetectors) August 15, 2024
The enraged locals have threatened to stage a protest at the Paroo police station and use road blockades in the event that the offenders are not apprehended promptly. As per the information provided on social media, an FIR has been registered against the five accused. As per the media coverage, Muzaffarpur senior superintendent of police Rakesh Kumar has stated that “Injuries from a sharp weapon have been found on the dead girl’s neck, head and palms. We have collected evidence with the help of a forensic team and the dog squad. A khurpi (small gardening spade) used in the murder has been recovered. Raids are being conducted to arrest the accused”. The police said they would not be able to confirm the gang rape till they received the post-mortem report.
It is essential to note that no mainstream media has covered this news.
Minor Dalit girl raped by government official
On August 12, a 57-year-old government official was arrested for allegedly raping a 6-year-old Dalit girl in her home in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. The accused, Gajendra Singh, who served as an Agriculture Development Officer, has been arrested and suspended from his position.
The rape has been alleged to have taken place when the parents of the victims were not at home. The accused took advantage of the absence of adults, and allegedly entered the victim’s home while she was playing with a neighbour’s child. The neighbour’s child recorded the horrific act on their mobile phone. As per a report of Maktoob Media, the victim’s father, who is a Dalit farmer, narrated the incident by providing that “My daughter, who opened the door, told him not to come in as there was no one else in the house. The kid goat was tied to a pole. The incident took place around 5 pm. Singh had visited our house previously for work. On Monday, he didn’t listen to my daughter and instead sat down on the charpai.”
The Dalit farmer “My daughter will never be able to live a normal life now? He (accused) should be given the strictest punishment,” he added.
A complaint was filed with the police the following morning. The accused is charged with sexually assaulting the minor girl and then engaging in bestiality with a goat on the property. According to police, Singh has been charged under several serious laws based on the complaint filed. These include the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act, the POCSO Act, Section 65(2) of the Indian Penal Code (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
After the incident came to light, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, took serious cognizance of the matter and accused official has been suspended, and a departmental inquiry has been initiated. Additionally, the state government has announced financial assistance of 8.25 lakh for the victim’s family under various schemes.
The Maktoob Media report states that the Chief Minister has directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of Bulandshahr and the District Magistrate to visit the village, offer support to the victim’s family, and oversee the investigation.
It is crucial to note that the victim is currently stable and undergoing medical examinations. Speaking to the media, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Shlok Kumar, has confirmed the arrest of the accused and stated that a thorough investigation is underway.
No outrage on sexual violence against Dalit women?
Violence against Dalit women often remain underreported in mainstream media due to deeply entrenched caste biases and systemic discrimination in society. The media in India, which is often dominated by upper-caste narratives, tends to marginalise issues affecting the Dalit community. This bias is compounded by a lack of representation of Dalits in media organisations, which leads to a skewed focus on issues affecting more privileged groups. As a result, the horrific violence faced by Dalit women is frequently overlooked or minimised, failing to receive the attention it deserves. This exclusion from mainstream discourse perpetuates their vulnerability and invisibility.
The absence of widespread protests against violence targeting Dalit women is closely tied to the caste-based social hierarchy that continues to shape societal responses to injustice. In many cases, the dominant caste groups have significant influence over political and social institutions, including law enforcement, which discourages or suppresses public outcry. Additionally, there is often a lack of solidarity from other marginalised groups, who might not fully recognise the intersecting oppressions faced by Dalit women. The pervasive apathy and normalisation of caste-based violence create an environment where atrocities against Dalit women are met with silence rather than the collective outrage that might be seen in cases involving more socially privileged groups.
Related:
India’s flawed rape laws: a betrayal of equality
Horrifying instances of rape in MP and Mahrashtra, accused booked under POCSO