Why is #JusticeforSupriya trending today?

Image Courtesy:navbharattimes.indiatimes.com

In March, a 23-year-old woman was found dead near a railway track in Gujarat. The victim, identified as Supriya Tiwari, who lived in Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh had reportedly been found dead “under mysterious circumstances” near a railway track in Limkheda area of Dahod in Gujarat March 3. She was identified the next day, and according to a report in that day’s Indian Express, she had boarded the train for Bhopal at Kalupur railway station in Ahmedabad on March 2.

She had returned to Ahmedabad on March 2, and was eventually headed back to Madhya Pradesh after visiting her sister in Mundra, Kutch. It was a Limkheda resident who saw her the next day and alerted the police, reported IE. 

Almost three months have passed and her family is still awaiting justice. On May 20, perhaps Supriya’s family and friends took to social media in the hope that raising the matter on Twitter may help their voice to reach the Railway authorities and the governments of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat. The hashtag ‘justice for Supriya’ has been trending since early on May 20, with social media users hoping it would help. Many have raised the issue of women’s safety, and the safety of women travelling alone in trains, many are now asking for a CBI investigation.

There is even a letter, addressed to Madhya Pradesh CM, reportedly written by the victim’s sister, being shared. It reminds Shivraj Chauhan, who likes to call himself everyones ‘mamaji’ or maternal uncle that he should intervene and give justice to his ‘niece’ Supriya Tiwari as well. The letter details that even though the train coach had closed doors, and even a guard, a young woman went missing, and was eventually found dead on the railway tracks. It seeks that the state governments of both Guarat and MP launch an investigation so any such tragedy can be prevented in the future.

In March, soon after the gruesome incident, the family had accused the Gujarat police and Railway police officials of negligence. Supriya’s brother-in-law Rajesh Dwivedi who lives in Mundra had told the media that Supriya had spoken to him that night, and also to one of her friends from the train. According to the news report, a co-passenger recalled that Supriya went to “the washroom, leaving her cellphone and other items on the seat.”

And when she did not return after an hour, the co-passenger alerted the Ticket Checker who then informed the Railway Police Force (RPF) personnel, reported IE adding that the co-passenger then called Rajesh from Supriya’s cellphone to inform him that she went “missing when the train had passed Godhra.” Rajesh accused Gujarat Railway Police (GRP) and RPF officials of negligence. “As soon as I received the call from one of the passengers in her coach, I left for Ahmedabad where I reached by March 3 morning. Police and railway officials received my complaint and asked me to go to Godhra GRP. By afternoon, they told me that they cannot send the complaint via email. Then I reached Godhra GRP where I was kept waiting for hours,” he was quoted by IE.

He had recalled the traumatic experience the family had to face that day, “We spent the entire night on the Godhra railway platform on March 3 seeking help to trace my sister-in-law but none helped. They kept recording our statements but did not send any team to look for her… On March 4 around 7 A.M, we were told that her body was found 5-6 feet away from the railway track in the Limkheda area of Dahod.” 

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