The nation is still reeling from the horrific incident at RG Kar Medical College, where a young doctor was subjected to unspeakable brutality. While the collective conscience is grappling with this monstrous crime, another heart-wrenching tragedy has unfolded.
A mere three-year-old innocent has fallen victim to the monstrous actions of an individual devoid of humanity. This tender life has been cruelly extinguished by a predator who violated and murdered her to satisfy his bestial desires.
The juxtaposition of these two incidents, both emblematic of the violence against women and children, underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive overhaul of societal attitudes and legal frameworks.
The blame game: A societal cancer
Every time a woman is violated, a chorus of accusations rises, not against the perpetrator, but against the victim. It’s a grotesque symphony of blame, where the onus of a crime is shifted from the criminal to the one who suffered.
The Taunts and the Realities
- Why was she out so late?
Case: The 3 year old child raped and murdered on 19th August, 2024, at 6:30 am.
|| Time is not a permit for predation. ||
A 3-year-old girl was allegedly abducted and raped by a 45-year-old man while she was sleeping outside a temple with her mother. The incident took place in the wee hours on 18.08.24 at Jodhpur Rajasthan. She was discovered by a woman while setting up her stall around 6:30 a.m. She was wrapped in a stole and had bruises and bite marks on her lips and back.
Conviction: CCTV footage from many sources, including the Abhay Command Centre, was thoroughly examined. The suspect, who was seen taking the youngster from the scene, was identified. After that, the accused was subsequently identified and taken into custody while working at a local tea shop.
Investigation: The investigation is still ongoing as the authorities continue to piece together the details of this horrific case.
2. What was she wearing?
Case: The 71-year-old Nun rape case
|| A woman’s attire has no correlation with her consent. ||
On March 14, 2015, a 71-year-old Catholic nun was brutally gang-raped by a group of men during a robbery at the Convent of Jesus and Mary in Ranaghat, Nadia district, West Bengal.
Arrests: Several individuals were arrested in connection with the crime, including the main accused, Nazrul Islam, a Bangladeshi national.
Conviction: A local court in Kolkata found Nazrul Islam guilty of rape. Six others were also held guilty of committing dacoity at the convent.
Punishment: Nazrul Islam was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape and attempted murder. The other accused received varying jail terms for their involvement in the robbery and related offenses.
- She must have provoked him.
Case: Kathua Rape and Murder Case of an 8-year-old
|| An eight-year-old child cannot provoke anyone. ||
An eight-year-old girl, Asifa Bano, belonging to the nomadic Bakarwal Muslim community, was abducted, gang-raped, and brutally murdered in January 2018 in Rasana village near Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. The crime was followed by a cover-up attempt and a subsequent public outcry.
The brutality of the crime, coupled with the fact that the perpetrators were allegedly motivated by religious hatred.
Arrests: Several individuals were arrested in connection with the crime, including both civilians and police officials.
Conviction: A special court in Jammu found all the accused guilty. Four were awarded life imprisonment, one juvenile was sent to a juvenile home, and the remaining three received lesser sentences for evidence tampering and destruction.
Punishment: The life convicts will spend the rest of their lives in prison. The juvenile, after serving his term in the juvenile home, will be transferred to a jail to complete the remaining part of his sentence.
- She was asking for it.
Also Read: Nationwide Protests Erupt As Cbi Intensifies Investigation For Rg Kar Medical College Case
Case: 3-year-old minor raped by school van driver
|| A three-year-old cannot ‘ask for it’. ||
A 3-year-old girl was raped by her school van driver in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, in August 2023. The young child, a nursery student, disclosed the horrific ordeal to her parents after experiencing stomach pain. The accused, a 30-year-old man named Jaishree Tiwary, was arrested within hours of the complaint being filed.
The incident highlighted the vulnerability of young children, even within the supposed safety of their school transportation.
Arrest: The accused driver, Jaishree Tiwary, was swiftly apprehended by the police following the complaint filed by the victim’s parents.
- Her character must be questionable.
Case: 2-month-old raped in Ludhiana by paternal relative.
|| A two-month-old infant has no character to question. ||
A two-month-old infant was brutally raped by her paternal uncle in a village near Ludhiana, Punjab, in July 2023. The infant was hospitalized in critical condition due to the severe injuries sustained during the assault.
Arrest: The accused uncle was promptly arrested following the incident based on the mother’s complaint.
As of now, there seems to be no publicly available information regarding the punishment given to the culprit.
- She must have been involved with the man.
Case: Father raping minor daughter over 2 years in Delhi
|| Incest is a heinous crime. ||
A father in Delhi subjected his minor daughter to repeated sexual abuse over a period of two years. The young girl endured unimaginable suffering at the hands of the person who was supposed to protect her.
Conviction: The Delhi High Court overturned an earlier acquittal of the father. The father was subsequently convicted and sentenced to rigorous imprisonment.
- She could have fought back or screamed! She must be enjoying it.
Case: 11-year-old mentally disabled girl raped by an autorickshaw driver
|| A victim’s response to trauma is not a measure of their bravery. ||
An 11-year-old mentally disabled girl was brutally raped by an autorickshaw driver in Sendhwa, Barwani district, Madhya Pradesh, in May 2024.
Arrest: The accused, a 35-year-old autorickshaw driver named Imran Sheikh, was promptly arrested based on the evidence and the victim’s statement.
These cases are just a fraction of the countless stories of women who have been wronged and blamed. It’s time to break the silence, challenge the stereotypes, and demand justice.
