Crime against women is increasing day by day in India. As reported, the recent incident in Uttar Pradesh are horrific in nature. The family of the victim has been denied even a last glance of their dead daughter. The state Government has a lot to answer as the law enforcing agencies were visibly inhuman.
The brutality against women is simply unacceptable. Some incidents are bluntly reported but many are hushed up and brushed aside under the carpet. But a large number of similar incidents go unreported. Though it is a crime against women in general, often the victims are Dalits, the marginalized and the voiceless in society.
The states which are infested with castes system, the Dalits are always at the receiving end. Though rules regarding atrocities against Dalits are in place, they are nullified with false reporting by the law enforcing agencies.
After the Nirbhaya case, more stringent laws have been passed but lack of willingness on the part of the law enforcing agencies in filing first-hand information reports with real facts seems to be wanting. Most of the times the reporting is done at the behest of the higher-ups or upper caste groups. As a result justice is denied to the poor victims.
One wonders when our women will be free, especially in a caste-ridden society. Do the governments have willingness to protect specially the Dalits, the marginalized and the voiceless in our society?
RUI PEREIRA, Navelim
