Patna, Jan. 2: Women are still being subjected to humiliation and torture across the state in spite of nationwide protests against the New Delhi gang rape. Data at the state police headquarters suggested that 236 cases of attempt to rape were registered in 2012.
Arti Kumari (name changed), a BA final-year student of Sitaram Chamaria College in Katihar, found it hard for the past six months to attend classes regularly as she used to be teased by a group of men. She even vacated her hostel room in Katihar town and started living with her parents at her native village.
On last Thursday, Arti met Katihar superintendent of police (SP) Kim and sought her intervention. Arti said she was so perturbed that at times she contemplated suicide.
Kim ordered Barari station house officer (SHO) K.K. Diwakar to arrest Rajiv Mandal, Pramod Singh, Mantu Mandal and Basudev Singh, all accused of eve-teasing. Within 24 hours, Rajiv, a resident of Gujra village, was put behind bars. However, Rajiv’s arrest failed to deter the tormentors, who according to the victim, started threatening her and her parents to withdraw the case.
Around two weeks ago, a group of people tried to set ablaze a young girl after a failed attempt to outrage her sister’s modesty. The incident occurred under Mufassil police station in Katihar district. At present, the girl is undergoing treatment at Katihar sadar hospital, while the accused are moving scot-free.
A Samastipur-based college student in a complaint submitted to the SP a week back said she had to remain indoors as some youths in her locality used to harass her on way to college. Samastipur SP Varun Kumar Sinha assured the victim’s family that the eve-teasers would be arrested. Even after a week, the SP’s assurance is yet to be translated into reality. Additional director-general of police (headquarters) Ravinder Kumar said women police stations had been set up in all districts.
Molest slur
A teacher of a middle school at Dhanaura village in Chhapra was suspended on Wednesday for allegedly molesting two students.
Skirt diktat
The sarpanch of Siswa Kala village in Siwan, Vijay Kant Singh, sparked controversy on Wednesday by asking girls to not wear skirts or jeans.
