NEW DELHI, Jan 27: In a shocking incident in the national capital, the victim of a gang rape by illegal liquor vendors was “paraded” by some neighbours with her head tonsured, face blackened and a “garland of chappals” placed on her neck. She was also frequently beaten and slapped by women accompanying her who clapped and shamed her as she tried to evade looking at the camera being photographed. Four women seen in the “parade” in the video made viral on the social media have been arrested after the Delhi Commission for Women lodged a police compliant.
Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal, who met the woman, in a tweet said she has demanded the Delhi Police for action and more arrests. “A 20-year-old girl was gang-raped by illegal liquor sellers in Kasturba Nagar. Her head was tonsured and black paint put on her face and then she was paraded in the streets wearing a garland of slippers. I am issuing notice to Delhi Police. All the accused men and women should be arrested and the girl and her family should be given security,” Ms Maliwal said while sharing the video.
Ms Maliwal met the survivor who informed her that she was abducted from her home and gang raped by 3 men who are involved in illicit trade of liquor and drugs locally. While they were gang raping her, the women present therein were instigating the men to rape her. She further informed that they beat her up brutally, shaved her head, blackened her face and made her walk around the neighbourhood with a garland of slippers and shoes,” the women panel said in a release.
The Commission has also sought details of any previous complaints against the accused persons especially regarding their involvement in illegal liquor and drug trade. “Furthermore, Delhi Police has been asked to furnish the steps taken by them to provide the girl security. The Delhi Police has been given 72 hours to submit a detailed action taken report to the Commission in the matter alongwith the CCTV footage of the whole incident,” it said.
According to the survivor’s sister, a boy living in the neighbourhood who claimed to be in love with the woman committed suicide in November last year. “His family blames my sister for their son’s death,” she said.
“Yesterday, we received information that some women have abducted a woman, thrashed and threatened her. We rescued the victim from the accused’s house; counselling and medical of the victim was conducted. We’ve arrested four accused yesterday and apprehended an accused today,” a senior police official said.
“Raids on to arrest others. Both the accused and the victim were neighbours in past. Accused alleged that her son had died by suicide last year in November because of that woman. We are taking stringent action as per law,” he added.
(Manas Dasgupta)
