Why Can’t Women Live In Peace In Himachal?
Prof N.K. Singh
Former Chairman International Airports Authority of India
I have borrowed above words partly from the question Supreme Court posed to the government. Today, it is most crucial issue facing Himachal Pradesh which has been suffering the anguish of thousands of people on the brutal rape and murder of a minor girl in Shimla hills. The spark that this even lighted has spread fire in the entire state as very often the influential people indulge in their carnal crimes without being caught as money and political power is easily invoked to put down the fires of public anger.
* Five years back, a minor girl was murdered after rape in Karlohi in Amb subdivision. But nothing has been found as yet about the criminal who committed this and files have been closed. As there was no agitation and protest of this magnitude as in Shimla, nothing happened.
There is no doubt, as is being claimed by the agitators; the crime has been committed by the influential people in political or financial intoxication. The investigations had been tardy leading to impression that it is being manipulated. The girl was raped where the body is found or elsewhere is still not clear to the police. The crime has created statewide protest leading to violence in some cases. This must raise the conscience of people who have remained apathetic so far. It is good that now the Central Bureau of Investigations has been requested to take up the case. Whole process is so time taking that evidence gets obliterated or missing as different other impressions are made over the time.
The state of law and order generally relaxed and outsiders too commit a lot of crime. Disappearance of women is very frequently occurring crime as these are either smuggled outside the state or used for criminal actions. In Una and Kangra districts alone, 288 women were missing and hundreds of them have not been traced so far. Political interference and money influence is so much that no case is without such ramifications as the state is small and everyone knows everyone that makes powerful people approachable.
It is general experience that such offences and violation of law are not rare but often taking place in the state. Many such cases can be recollected. Five years back, a minor girl was murdered after rape in Karlohi in Amb subdivision. But nothing has been found as yet about the criminal who committed this and files have been closed. As there was no agitation and protest of this magnitude as in Shimla, nothing happened. This case eminently deserves to be reopened. I have myself come across a case many years back when some social activists brought a minor girl of the scheduled tribe who was gang raped and some senior officials were involved. The matter was not being pursued by the police and the culprits were free.
I had just come from Delhi and I took this matter seriously. I called the media representative but they too were under pressure from the high ups. I had to talk to editor of a national paper at Chandigarh who was kind enough to send a correspondent to my village in Amb. After the report appeared in national paper, the government started a magisterial inquiry. Simultaneously, I lodged a case in National Human Rights Commission. When the matter went to court, the crime could not be proved as many witnesses had been bribed to hush-up.
The case of Himachal is typical because it is still a state without fully developed transportation and means to get justice. The police is servile to political masters and acting on their commands. In smaller thanas, virtually the police men seek nod of higher ups or politicians in power before they take up the violation of law. Money matters a lot and at every level as it can create obstacles for poor people to seek the justice. It is high time women are secured and any violation is seriously nipped in the bud before crimes take such volcanic shape. More women police officers, not constables, are needed so that professionalism is introduced in crime handling. Himachal needs complete reform in its law and order system to make it efficient and less vulnerable to political or money power pitfalls.
Bus Stand
First Passenger: Why there is no GST on liquor?
Second Passenger: The government wants people to relax.
विवाह प्रस्ताव की तलाश कर रहे हैं ? भारत मैट्रीमोनी में निःशुल्क रजिस्टर करें !
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