People's Democracy

Women’s Org’ns Protest against

Gang Rape of Young Woman

A mass protest was staged before the Police Headquarters on December 19, by several national women’s organisations, student movements, and activists, to protest against the recent gang rape of a young medical student in Delhi. The protest turned into a spontaneous mass response with local public, bystanders, and office goers, joining in the demonstration to express solidarity and demanding justice.

There was a rising demand for the police commissioner to address the gathering, and restore faith in the law and order of the capital city. The permission to meet the commissioner in his office was given for a delegation of heads of organisations present. The delegation was also accompanied by three MPs from the Rajya Sabha, Jaya Bachan, T N Seema, and Jharna Das Baidya.

The urgent demands placed before him included: 1.Increased patrolling and deployment of police, including women police in public places so that such incidents can be prevented, and women’s safety assured; improved infrastructure to make cities safer for women. 2. Fast track courts to deal with rape cases, hearings to be held on a day to day basis, so that sentence can be delivered within a period of six months. Police investigation to be conducted in a time bound manner. 3. Standardised investigation procedures to be circulated to all police stations, with action taken against police personnel who do not implement them properly. 4. Increased sensitisation, effective investigation and accountability of the police in dealing with heinous crimes against women. 5. Immediate relief, legal and medical assistance, and long term rehabilitation measures to be provided to survivors of rape, without delays and hassles.

Jaya Bachan made a strong demand that the police commissioner issue a statement of public apology for their inefficiency, and this will be one way of restoring the confidence of the citizens of Delhi in the police force.

A memorandum endorsed by several organisations was then handed to the commissioner for immediate action. It said that violence against women is not just an attack on an individual, but acts also as a deterrent to women’s mobility and right to safety and freedom in public places. It called on the Delhi police to ensure immediate arrest of all the perpetrators, carry out efficient investigation, and take measures for a speedy trial leading to stringent punishment of the culprits. It pointed out to the disturbing frequency with which crimes are being committed in the National capital region. The NCRB data shows that in 2011 alone there have been 522 rape cases within the city, the highest in any metro city within the country. In 2012, the reported cases have already gone up to 600. It underlined that this state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue and said the police, and the government must send out a strong message of zero tolerance on cases of violence against women.

The commissioner gave his assurance to the delegation that this matter would be taken up immediately.