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Patna, Aug. 17: National Commission for Women member Charu Wali Khanna today said Bihar was in the grip of “jungle raj” given the alarming number of cases of atrocities against women in the state.
Khanna, who was in the city to probe the gangrape of a Class XI student at a flat in Rajvanshi Nagar, said the commission felt there was an emergency-like situation in Bihar.
“There is no rule of law in Bihar as claimed by the state administration. Women are subjected to torture, raped and at times gangraped. The law and order machinery is not only a mute spectator of the crime but is also working in collusion with the tormentors,” she said.
“Going through the complaints that I have received, it is obvious that jungle raj prevails in Bihar. What is shocking is that minor and young girls are the worst victims of the crime,” said Khanna.
The label of “jungle raj” is sure to touch a raw nerve in the state administration as the label has been oft used by the current NDA dispensation while referring to the erstwhile Lalu-Rabri regime.
Khanna referred to the case of eve-teasing of some Rohtas girls to drive home her point. These girls covered a distance of about 165km to reach Patna and narrate to her their travails. “The girls are living under constant fear of the tormentors since 2007. They have stopped going to school. They even had to forgo examinations. As a result, their studies have been discontinued while the tormentors are moving scot-free,” she said.
Khanna took a dig at the Nitish government’s much-publicised cycle scheme for school children. She said when girls don’t feel safe when venturing out of their houses, the purpose of providing them bicycles is defeated. “To ensure their safety is the first and foremost responsibility of the government.”
On the Patna gangrape, Khanna said the police swung into action only after the intervention of the state women’s commission. “I met the victim. She is so traumatised that she needs immediate physiological counselling,” she said.
Khanna said the girl is not willing to stay in Patna because of the social stigma. “I have asked the DGP to relocate the girl so that she can continue with her studies.”
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