Can Gujarat police please step into 21st century?
Neighbours blamed the woman for the misfortune that befell some of them and wanted her to leave the village
Despite being cops, lesbian couple’s plea for help ignored; battered and bruised, 24-yr-old ‘witch’ from Tapi waits helplessly for police to get her justice. It is time for Gujarat police to step up and defend those who look up to it for protection against age-old superstitious practices, discrimination
Branded as witch, villagers tie woman to pole, thrash her; cops fail to file FIR
By Brendan Dabhi
We may have stepped into the 21st century but there are several areas in the interior areas of Gujarat that is still very much in the grip of superstition. A 36-year-old woman was branded a witch by villagers in Tapi and thrashed so badly that she required urgent medical attention. And while the Buhari outpost police were informed of the incident,Mirror learnt that not even an FIR has been filed in the matter so far.
Residents of a small village near Valod reportedly attacked the woman as they suspected she was possessed by an evil spirit and responsible for some misfortunate events that had befallen some of them. She was tied to an electrical pole and brutally thrashed by her neighbours who wanted her gone from the village. Fortunately, a good Samaritan called 181 Abhayam helpline and informed them of the situation. When the team reached the spot from Vyara, the woman’s condition was so bad that they had to call an ambulance and take her to hospital for treatment.
Like most victims of witch hunt, the victim is a widow. Her husband died six years ago. She is the sole breadwinner of her family, comprising her mother and two sons aged 14 and 9 years, who works as a farm labourer to put food on their table.
Abhayam helpline officials informed Mirror that the villagers used to taunt the victim, asking her to leave the village as they believed she had cast her ‘evil eye’ on them. Recently, when a neighbour got sick, they blamed it on the woman, said Chandrakant Makwana, an Abhayam counsellor in Surat.
The physical and mental harassment reached a peak on Friday when villagers dragged her out of her house, tied her to the electrical pole, and began thrashing her.
They said they would call a 'bhuwa' to perform an exorcism on her.
However, before that could happen, the Abhayam team reached the spot and took control of the situation. The woman was rescued and taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries.
Police officials at Buhari outpost were informed of this incident, which falls under Valod police station. However, more than 24 hours later too, the police had taken no action against the accused and not even filed an FIR in the matter.
When asked about this, Valod Inspector Pratik Amin said, “We have not filed an FIR in the case because the victim has not asked us to do so.”
When asked whether he was aware that the woman had needed medical attention, Inspector Amin said, “Yes, we are aware but have received no further intimation about the matter.”
However, officials of the 181 Abhayam helpline confirmed they had intimated police personnel about the seriousness of the situation.
Although modernisation and access to better health and sanitation facilities have changed people’s beliefs in such practices, superstition still prevails, particularly among the underprivileged communities. A few states have adopted anti- –witch hunting laws, but Gujarat, which is touted as a model of development for the country, is not one of them.
Rationalist Lankesh Chakravarty said in such circumstances, it is the duty of the State machinery to ensure proper healthcare and safety of the victim and her/his family. It is also the administration’s responsibility to make sure that awareness against superstition and action against such practices is taken to stop such harassment, he added.
When the issue was raised before Superintendent of Police (Tapi) N M Chaudhary, he said, “We will certainly take action in the case if it has not been done so far. I will immediately ask the sub-inspector to look into the matter.”
(Victim’s name hidden to protect identity)
Denied protection, lesbian constables knock on HC doors
By Nikunj Soni
They are the police. So when two female police constables working inMahisagar district came out as a lesbian couple and sought police protection from their family members, they had complete faith that the force they served would stand by them all the way. After all, as cops, hadn’t they promised to serve and protect everyone without any bias? But the reality turned out quite different. Their request ignored by seniors, the couple were forced to knock on Gujarat High Court’s doors. The HC then directed the police to provide immediate protection to the duo.
Petitioners Manisha, 24, hails from a village in Botad while Bhavna, 24, is from Dahod. At present, they both are posted at a police station in Mahisagar district. The two had applied for police recruitment four years ago. They were posted as constables in a police station in Mahisagar district Co-habiting in quarters provided by the department, the two fell in love with each other three years ago. On June 10, they drew up live-in relationship agreement so they could live together without fear. However, when their families got to know of their relationship, they began pressuring them to return home.
On June 15, the two women sent an application to inspector of Santrampur Police Station in Mahisagar seeking protection. When they did not get a reply even five days later, they wrote another application – this time, it was addressed to Superintendent of Police (Mahisagar)Usha Rada .
They wrote, “We both are women and take care of ourselves. We have decided to live together for the rest of our entire lives. We have been in love for past 3 years. We want to live under one roof. Therefore, we have entered a livein relationship contract. This has made our family members angry with us. We fear threat to our lives from both families. Manisha’s kin frequently come here and threaten to take her home forcefully. Our family members may even kill us. So, we need protection.”
To their great dismay, they received no response. Finally, the two approached HC on July 3 through lawyerPanthil Majmudar . “Having gone through representation made by petitioners, who work as police constables and who have sought for police protection from their own family members, Mahisagar SP is hereby directed to look into the matter and take immediate steps. If required, the petitioners shall be provided police protection,” ordered Justice AJ Desai on July 23.
Meanwhile, their parents approached Mahisagar police seeking action. “Manisha’s father moved a plea but we informed them that we cannot take action as the two are adults and can live as they want. “ Rada told Mirror.
(Names changed to protect identities)
Branded as witch, villagers tie woman to pole, thrash her; cops fail to file FIR
By Brendan Dabhi
We may have stepped into the 21st century but there are several areas in the interior areas of Gujarat that is still very much in the grip of superstition. A 36-year-old woman was branded a witch by villagers in Tapi and thrashed so badly that she required urgent medical attention. And while the Buhari outpost police were informed of the incident,
Residents of a small village near Valod reportedly attacked the woman as they suspected she was possessed by an evil spirit and responsible for some misfortunate events that had befallen some of them. She was tied to an electrical pole and brutally thrashed by her neighbours who wanted her gone from the village. Fortunately, a good Samaritan called 181 Abhayam helpline and informed them of the situation. When the team reached the spot from Vyara, the woman’s condition was so bad that they had to call an ambulance and take her to hospital for treatment.
Like most victims of witch hunt, the victim is a widow. Her husband died six years ago. She is the sole breadwinner of her family, comprising her mother and two sons aged 14 and 9 years, who works as a farm labourer to put food on their table.
Usually in such cases, it is better if victim files a complaint against accused but there is also precedence of police taking suo motu action. We will look into the matter
Abhayam helpline officials informed Mirror that the villagers used to taunt the victim, asking her to leave the village as they believed she had cast her ‘evil eye’ on them. Recently, when a neighbour got sick, they blamed it on the woman, said Chandrakant Makwana, an Abhayam counsellor in Surat.
The physical and mental harassment reached a peak on Friday when villagers dragged her out of her house, tied her to the electrical pole, and began thrashing her.
They said they would call a 'bhuwa' to perform an exorcism on her.
However, before that could happen, the Abhayam team reached the spot and took control of the situation. The woman was rescued and taken to the hospital to be treated for her injuries.
Police officials at Buhari outpost were informed of this incident, which falls under Valod police station. However, more than 24 hours later too, the police had taken no action against the accused and not even filed an FIR in the matter.
When asked about this, Valod Inspector Pratik Amin said, “We have not filed an FIR in the case because the victim has not asked us to do so.”
When asked whether he was aware that the woman had needed medical attention, Inspector Amin said, “Yes, we are aware but have received no further intimation about the matter.”
However, officials of the 181 Abhayam helpline confirmed they had intimated police personnel about the seriousness of the situation.
Although modernisation and access to better health and sanitation facilities have changed people’s beliefs in such practices, superstition still prevails, particularly among the underprivileged communities. A few states have adopted anti- –witch hunting laws, but Gujarat, which is touted as a model of development for the country, is not one of them.
Rationalist Lankesh Chakravarty said in such circumstances, it is the duty of the State machinery to ensure proper healthcare and safety of the victim and her/his family. It is also the administration’s responsibility to make sure that awareness against superstition and action against such practices is taken to stop such harassment, he added.
When the issue was raised before Superintendent of Police (Tapi) N M Chaudhary, he said, “We will certainly take action in the case if it has not been done so far. I will immediately ask the sub-inspector to look into the matter.”
(Victim’s name hidden to protect identity)
Denied protection, lesbian constables knock on HC doors
By Nikunj Soni
They are the police. So when two female police constables working in
Petitioners Manisha, 24, hails from a village in Botad while Bhavna, 24, is from Dahod. At present, they both are posted at a police station in Mahisagar district. The two had applied for police recruitment four years ago. They were posted as constables in a police station in Mahisagar district Co-habiting in quarters provided by the department, the two fell in love with each other three years ago. On June 10, they drew up live-in relationship agreement so they could live together without fear. However, when their families got to know of their relationship, they began pressuring them to return home.
On June 15, the two women sent an application to inspector of Santrampur Police Station in Mahisagar seeking protection. When they did not get a reply even five days later, they wrote another application – this time, it was addressed to Superintendent of Police (Mahisagar)
The two have had protection since the beginning. They live in Police Lines and are protected. Our inspector met their kin when they came here. They must have gone to HC for more assurance
They wrote, “We both are women and take care of ourselves. We have decided to live together for the rest of our entire lives. We have been in love for past 3 years. We want to live under one roof. Therefore, we have entered a livein relationship contract. This has made our family members angry with us. We fear threat to our lives from both families. Manisha’s kin frequently come here and threaten to take her home forcefully. Our family members may even kill us. So, we need protection.”
To their great dismay, they received no response. Finally, the two approached HC on July 3 through lawyer
Meanwhile, their parents approached Mahisagar police seeking action. “Manisha’s father moved a plea but we informed them that we cannot take action as the two are adults and can live as they want. “ Rada told Mirror.
(Names changed to protect identities)
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