No Miscarriage Of Justice, Certainly Not This Time!

Crime has not been foreign to our country. In fact, we have witnessed high profile crimes and cases that eventually went forward to become national interests and also motivated changes in laws and order. One among these is the popular Delhi Gang Rape of 2012 that shook entire India and also made headlines across the world. This is one case that is classified among the ‘rarest of the rare’ cases and the entire world has been looking forward to the verdict against the accused.

Although all the living accused were sentenced to death (God knows when the sentence will be implemented though), the juvenile accused who was younger than 18 years of age at the time of the crime was sentenced to only three years according to the juvenile law. And, since the accused has served the three-year term now, he is set to walk free this December.

I have been seeing a lot of petitions being circulated requesting the Judiciary to prolong the punishment of the accused who is believed to have been the most dangerous and ruthless of all. Just because he was a minor at the time of committing the crime, of course, we cannot overlook the nature of the crime he committed.

Rape itself is among one of the most brutal crimes that one can commit. Destroying a woman completely, dragging out her internal body parts and attempting to kill her along with a male friend is surely not something that deserves a term of three years at a reformation centre. If the boy had the understanding and audacity of raping a woman and killing her, I don’t think he was anything lesser than the other accused just because he was not 18 years of age then.

Anyway, the number of petitions and pleas being made to the court to reconsider the victim’s sentence and put him behind the bars is certainly a good move. It is good to see that people are actually fighting for a girl who they did not know but are still concerned because India lost a braveheart daughter like her. Of course, despite the changes made in the law, rapes have not receded. But, if, in this case, the juvenile is tried in a way similar to that of adults, it will discourage minors from committing such crimes and create a fear in their mind.

We all think miscarriage of justice should not happen, at least not in this case!

Another Nirbhaya In Delhi! Where Is Nirbhaya Fund?

Ever since the brutal rape of a medical student in Delhi on the night of 16 December 2013, rapes and their horrific effects have come to light in India. An unforgettable incident that it was, the Nirbhaya case forced the government to take action, make the laws against rape more stringent and also take steps to prevent such incidents in future. A fund named as the Nirbhaya Fund was created by the government that basically intends to provide help to rape victims and protect the dignity and security of women in India. A case that amassed huge media attention initially later got overpowered by other news and nobody exactly knows the situation about the Nirbhaya fund currently. Forget the situation of the fund, there are even people who do not know that such a fund exists for the dignity, security and aid of women in the first place.

Just a day before, Delhi, the capital city of crime apart from being the capital of our country, witnessed another Nirbhaya. This time, however, she is a minor, a mere 4 year old, who was brutally raped and assaulted in the capital city, bringing back the memories of the brutal Delhi gang rape once again. The 4 year old was lured from her home and taken to a secluded place where she was brutally raped and left behind bleeding profusely. The little braveheart then managed to crawl back to her home after which she was taken to the Safdarjung hospital just like the incident of 16 December 2013.

Although the case could not make as many headlines in the media as the one in 2013 had, this is an incident very similar to it. They say history repeats and yeah, it really does! By similar, I do not mean the minor was raped in a bus by five to six men but the damage caused to the little girl reminds every attendant of the brutal crime that took place in the same city two years ago. The doctors at the hospital have termed the injuries on the little girl’s body as horrific and have also reported tremendous damage to the toddler’s intestines. The damage is so high that doctors claim the victim will have to undergo several surgeries for six months to be brought back to normal. Such is the state of our country right now!

In 2015, the Nirbhaya Fund received a more of 1000 crores than the existent 1000 crores allocated to it. In short, in 2015, the Finance Minister put an overall 2000 crores in the Nirbhaya Fund on the pretext of protecting the dignity of women and ensuring their security. But, considering the increasing number of rapes across the country, of course, people have questioned the credibility of the fund. When it was first created, the Nirbhaya Fund talked a lot about women’s safety and made promises to build rape rehabilitation centres apart from helping the victims to emerge from the losses and lead a normal life once again. However, so far, the fund hasn’t been used for any victim, nor have the proposed rehabilitation centres or help centres have been built. A total waste of money we can say!

It is not like proposals were not made for the fund to be used. However, in reality, the fund has done nothing for any rape survivor so far nor has taken any steps to prevent such brutal and inhuman incidents in future.

Women’s security has been becoming a serious issue day by day with countless rape, molestation and eve-teasing incidents being reported in different cities and states in the country. Instead of allocating an extra 1000 crores to the Nirbhaya Fund, dear Finance Minister, it would have been better if the money would have been used to install CCTV cameras at public places in cities, build help centres across cities and create functional emergency helplines that could help women seek help in case of any grave situation.

And yeah, by the way, please train the police force to handle grave emergency cases. Also make sure they are professional enough to act quickly and wisely during such emergencies as most of them are not even sure about their jurisdiction.

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16 December....An year later!

16 December 2012! Who wouldn't remember this date? A day of terror, a day that shook every Indian, a day that led to an uprising all over the country, a day that raised questions over women's security! It is 16 December yet again! Its past an year that the country witnessed one of the most horrendous crimes in its history- the rape of a young girl on a moving bus in the national capital. One year after witnessing the terrific incident, an year after fighting for the security of women, how safe are we today? Is there anyone to answer this?

Last year, India witnessed a ghastly crime, one of its nature, that left every India awestruck. After holding candle marches and protests, after having sentenced the criminals to death penalty, India still today fights to protect its women from the horrible intentions of some males. After the Delhi Rape Case, although protests were held in every part of the world, what did really change? Although the law relating to rape, molestation, etc changed, do women in India feel safe today? I had previously written an article over this (http://your-speak.blogspot.in/2013/12/law-has-changed-but-how-many-changes.html) where I had attempted to analyse the after effects of the Delhi case and the subsequent changes in law. For those who have read the article, you would surely know that the number of crimes against women, particularly molestation and rapes, showed a slanting upward  graph. So what lessons have we taken from the deadly incident an year ago? Nothing? Even after an innocent girl lost her life?

When the question of security of women is raised, we haven't been successful in making the world a better place for girls. There are so many women who commute with fear everyday, late night, because they work in shifts or they have to support their family! Haven't they got the right to enjoy a secure life? Even Mumbai, that was once considered as the safest city for women in India, has had a record of crimes in the last year. Every day I commute, I see men staring, some even passing comments, some singing, whistling and what not! And every girl has witnessed this at some point in life, however, many of us simply ignore because that's the best way to deal with it! And then people say girls are at fault, their dressing is blamed ! Why don't we simply attempt to teach our sons and brothers to respect women instead?

Today, on 16 December 2013, I have written this blog to salute the spirit of the young braveheart who fought for life despite being completely destroyed. Yes, we can never imagine the ordeal she went through, so just a salute to her spirit, will power and bravery! If every girl in India shows this spirit and raises voice over even the smallest of crimes, we would definitely be able to make our country a better place, if not the best!

If not us, then who? Stand up today!

Some of my last posts were based on sexual harassment and laws pertaining to them. Today, I read a news on NDTV that left me awestruck and forced to think- Is this what progress we are achieving? The cases of harassment have been increasing day by day, despite attempts made to curb them. The news I read today said, two years ago, a Human Resource Manager employed with a reputed US-based multinational company was fired for supporting his female colleague who complained of sexual harassment from her Director. The efficient and vigilant professional, instead of merely trying to cover up the case, assorted to support the colleague and take legal action. The professional is jobless for 2 years now, paying a high price for choosing to act as per the law.
What message is this going to give us?

How many victims get adequate and timely help?

Most professionals today shy away from supporting their female colleagues who are a victim of misbehavior at the workplace or even offering help fearing they would lose their job. Forget the professional world, how many of us would help a man lying on the road, injured, bleeding and in a condition that clearly points to murder? In the month of December last year, when the victims of the fatal gang rape in Delhi were thrown out from the moving bus, people simply passed by, afraid of being caught up in a case unnecessarily and the victims could get help only after 40 minutes. Is this fair? I mean, don't you think 40 minutes are enough for a person to lose life?

Why are people not willing to help?

I have personally witnessed such incidents before where victims of rape, murder and even accidents are left to die on the road with fear of getting trapped in police questioning unnecessarily or receiving threats from the accused. Who is to blame in this? Is it the people or the system that handles these cases? The fact is we do not get any support or security for helping a person or for serving as a witness in such sensitive cases. Today, if you stand up for someone, you would be forced to withdraw, you would be offered huge sums of money and perks, you would be threatened or sometimes even attacked and harmed. This has created a sense of fear in the minds of people who, despite willing to help innocent victims, pass away from their side, feeling sorry for them.

A request on my part!

A humble request to you guys, do not think so much before helping anyone, your one effort could save a life! And this may happen to any one of us tomorrow, we know well now India is no longer a safer place it used to be! And for support and security, it will come when it has to if we fight for it collectively. If the world is to be made a safer place, it is we, and no one else who can do that! So stand up today guys so that we enjoy a better tomorrow!

What matters more? The age of the criminal or the crime?

In my last post, I had discussed on the topic of the increasing rape cases in India, their grave nature and how the problem has grown severe despite the Rape Law has been amended to cover a number of smaller crimes. Amending the Law was indeed a good step (let's not think about how many changes it brought or whether rape cases saw a fall). Today, when I hear the word 'rape', the first thing that comes to my mind is the Delhi Rape Case- A case that awakened the entire nation and brought the problems of women into limelight. As the terrific incident is near to complete an year, and even though the main accused were handed death penalty this year, do you think the brave-heart girl really got justice?

Trial for the juvenile accused in the fatal Delhi gang rape

As the world is set to celebrate Christmas and people are engrossed making new year plans, the parents of the girl are still fighting for justice. One of the accused in the case, being a juvenile, was convicted separately in the Juvenile Justice Court, where, according to the Juvenile Law, a maximum of three year jail term was awarded to the accused. My question here is, what is more important- whether the crime committed by an individual or his age? We all know about the horrendous nature of the Delhi rape case, the magnitude of the crime and also that the juvenile was the most destructive among them all. Of what the media reported, the juvenile is known to be the most violent culprit among the all- his beastly treatment left the girl completely destroyed who later succumbed to her injuries in Singapore.

Was the 3 year term enough?

Looking at the nature of the crime committed, was 3 years imprisonment an enough punishment for the accused? Has the brave-heart victim really got justice completely? We cannot imagine the agony the girl went through, the pain she experienced and even the slightest imagination brings goosebumps to us.And when all the men convicted had attempted the same crime, was it fair to leave the boy with such a meagre punishment merely considering  his age? I do not know whether the accused will give up the bad road and get converted ever in his life, however, it is certain that the brave victim would not obtain complete justice unless the accused is awarded punishment with regard to his crime and not age.

The history seems to be repeating..

Also considering the rape case of a young journalist in Mumbai at Sh

akti Mills, one of the accused has been recognized as a juvenile. If the accused is tried in a similar manner as the Delhi Rape Case accused was, don't you think it would leave an impression to the under-age guys out there that they could escape huge crimes easily? I do not mean to say that all juvenile criminals should be hanged to death. The crime committed by the accused should be considered well before any judgment is delivered.

A salute to the spirit of the brave-heart!

Law has changed! But how many changes could it bring?

We are in the last month of 2013 where people count on what they achieved the entire year, the losses made and plan and make resolutions of the future. The month of December also reminds me of something else- the fatal gang rape that took place in the same month an year ago in the national capital. As the memory of the dreadful incident flashes my mind, I am forced to think about what we learnt from the incident. Following the horrendous crime, there was national outrage with people protesting vigorously for women's rights, participating in candle marches and forcing the government o bring changes in the existing rape laws. And, considering the grave nature of the crime that occurred, the rape laws were amended or in other words, widened to cover a number of other crimes of a smaller nature that often go unreported or unnoticed.

Statistics of rape cases in 2013

As I read the news everyday, I find at least one news on rape, molestation or sexual assault. In an year where the nation united to fight for the rights of women, an year where the accused of the Delhi gang-rape case were awarded death penalty, the number of rape cases have reportedly gone up by 158 percent! What a shame for the country! As reported by IBN Live on April 23, 2013, the cases of rape all over the country had gone up by 158 percent while those of molestation and eve-teasing by 600 and 700 percent respectively. Alone in the national capital Delhi this year, the number of rape cases have increased from 330 in the last year to 806 this year. The increase is quite sharp and, moreover, shocking even after the law for rape has been amended and redefined, encompassing even crimes such as molestation and passing lewd comments, etc.

Cases that attracted media attention

If we observe and scan the passing year thoroughly, we have some rape cases that caught the attention of media and left the country speechless. The gang rape of a Mumbai-based journalist on assignment, accompanied with a male colleague at Shakti Mills, the gang rape of a female cop carrying the corpse of her sister in Jharkhand and the recent high-profile Tehelka sexual assault case that falls under the bracket of rape is an evidence of what changes have taken place in practicality despite law amendments.

What next?

We Indians need to change our mentality first, men should respect women and their integrity and only then a better for women will be born.