Majority Of Women Harassment Cases Unreported
Deeply entrenched VIP culture prevailing over laws and fear of character assassination stops women to look for justice
Y.S. Rana
The writer is a Hamirpur based Himachali settled in Chandigarh
Stalking incident of August 7 last on Chandigarh roads once again puts the spotlights on deeply entrenched VIP culture prevailing over laws. It is not an isolated case that a VIP son has been caught along with his friend. Chandigarh has a history of such cases in which sons of politicians, bureaucrats, police officers have brazenly crossed the line of decency without any sufferings. Just under the madness of ‘power’ of their fathers. Recently, stalking case of son of Haryana BJP chief got prominence when victim decided to go public with her ordeal. Dealing of police has not come out with glory which was expected from the ‘guardians of laws.’ Chandigarh being power seat of three governments—Centre, Punjab and Haryana—has scores of VIPs with 100s of their sons ride high on their fathers’ influence roaming all over city roads. Slowly and steadily ‘VIP culture’ has made inroads in the psyche of high profile children that often offends the women sensibilities. Case of a girl raped and killed by the accused that has rocked Himachal Pradesh. Finger was also pointed to an accused reportedly belonging to a political family. All efforts were made allegedly to save the accused.
As in the case, a son of Haryana BJP chief was involved in stalking of a girl also happened to a daughter of senior IAS officer of Haryana. The case has generated widespread public-political support. The balmy part of the episode, the police have not come out with clean hand. All tools were used at its disposal to save the accused—Vikas Barala. First the police avoided to book the accused under Section 365 Indian Penal Code (IPC) which is non-bailable offence. The accused was granted bail in the police station itself. In an apparent attempt, the political family reportedly arranged for swift bail for the accused.
In another case on Independence Day, a 12-year-old school going girl was raped in the Children Park around 8.30 a.m. The case did not arouse same anger in media and among public as Vikas Barala case got. Newspapers closed the case with a few lines of news item and electronic media showed one clip of the case and the matter ends.
On anonymity, a senior police official admitted that ‘political influence’ has a big hindrance in its functioning. VIP security also keeps Chandigarh police on its toes all the time. Police records shows that of 4127 police personnel, 334 policemen are presently deployed for VIP duties and 228 are deployed as VIP guards of 200 VIPs in Chandigarh. It is advocated that more women police officers should be appointed so that females likely to report. Studies show that 70% women do not report sexual harassment at workplace.
Varnika Kundu Shows The Way
Chandigarh stalking case victim Varnika Kundu while talking to Himachal This Week said that she was not aware about the political background of the accused. She came to know after the arrest of the accused and pressure mounted on her to withdraw the case. However she refused to succumb to the political attack and added that she will fight till the end of the case. The Chandigarh Administration has submitted the status report in a sealed envelope before the court.
The Court has also asked the Administration on whose insistence Section of abduction was incorporated. She admitted that mostly victims were “feel at fault”. she was also harassed on social media with pictures. She was not only pressurized to withdraw the case but more ‘attacks’ made her more bold. She said that women should speak out against ‘advances’ at workplace at the first sight. In case of harassment, one should have the courage to speak out. A number of cases have not been reported because of fear of character assassination.
Himachal At Fifth Position In Women Workplace Index
In women workplace index, the report brought together jointly by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a top American think-tank, and Nathan Associates, gave Sikkim the highest possible 40 points while Delhi received just 8.5, reflecting the state of affairs in the capital. Himachal Pradesh stood at number five with 24.3 points. The states were ranked according to four main factors: legal restrictions on women’s working hours in factories, retail, and the IT industry; the responsiveness of the state’s criminal justice system to crimes affecting working women, such as sexual harassment; the number of women workers in the state as a percentage of total workers; and the number of incentives the state’s startup and industrial policies offer women entrepreneurs.
737 Sexual Offences Cases In Himachal
As per National Crime Bureau, 3.27 lakh crimes against women were reported across the country. Of these, over 1.3 lakh were sexual offences and Himachal Pradesh has reported 737 sexual offences against women in 2016
Stalking Was Not Offence Till 2013
An advocate Ajay Kumar said that till 2013 ‘stalking’ was not an offence. A section 354-D was incorporated in the IPC to define stalking. An accused booked under Section 354-D (IPC) is punishable with imprisonment of not less than one year which may extend to three years. Police stations’ effort was to register minimum number of cases, so that these cannot be called for explanation, said an SHO.
Himachal-o-Meter
The state’s ups and downs this week
Himachal Clears Nine Industrial Proposals
Shimla: Nine industrial proposals were approved at the 84th meeting of the State-Level Single Window Clearance and Monitoring Authority. The proposals included Asian Concrete and Cement, Eastman Auto and Power Limited, Sampooran Layer Farming and others. In addition, 13 units were given approval for expansion. The total proposed investment of Rs 526.32 crore was given approval. There were 23 proposals and nine new were approved involving investment of Rs 457.69 crore and jobs to 881 persons. Apart from this, the 13 expansion approved involved investment of Rs 239.58 crore with employment potential to about 1,082 persons. The firms include Cadila Healthcare, Baddi, Cipla, Malpur, RCI Industries etc.
Five killed As Car Crushed Between Two Trucks
Solan: Five persons of a family were killed when the car they were travelling in was crushed between two trucks at Behral inter-state barrier at Paonta Sahib. The deceased included a three-year old girl and two women. The family was returning to Paonta Sahib from Saharanpur when the mishap occurred. It occurred when the car was awaiting its turn at inter-state barrier with a truck ahead of it. A speeding truck from behind it rammed into the car that crushed the occupants. The erring truck driver fled the spot. A case has been registered against the truck driver.
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