Women speak out: ‘There is no fear of the law’

The gang-rape of a mother and daughter in Gaya on Thursday is the latest in a series of crimes against women that have rocked Bihar in recent days. Along with rapes becoming every-day news items, another disturbing trend has surfaced: Of criminals filming sexual assaults and uploading the videos on social media. On Wednesday evening, a teenaged girl was assaulted, allegedly by a jilted lover who also filmed the act and uploaded it online, under Bihia police station area of Bhojpur district, around 75 km west of the state capital. This was the fifth such assault-and-film incident in the districts under Patna police zone in less than two months. Against this backdrop, The Telegraph spoke to women in the state capital to ask them if they feel safe in Bihar. Here’s what they said:

Repeated cases of rape prove that law and order has been hugely hit in the state. The criminals are no more scared of the law, as evident from videos of rape being circulated on social networking sites. For a girl who has been raped or harassed, lodging an FIR becomes tough because of the criminals’ nexus with the administration and people in power

Shilpi Singh, Activist

I don’t feel safe here. This is the reason that I don’t want to pursue my higher studies over here. My parents are so scared these days that they also don’t allow me to hang out in public spaces after sunset. More cases of rape are being reported in the rural areas though

Samriddhi Shekhar, Student

The government has to come out with ways to address the increasing cases of rape. People are not only committing the heinous crime but they are also circulating their videos as they take it as a mode of fun and entertainment. There is no fear of the law at all

Sudha Verghese, Social Activist

The fear of getting raped if I don’t follow certain precautions has taken over my mind. I always avoid taking public transport during night and I also don’t go to isolated places. I also ensure to take with me a family member or a friend when I am out during the evening

Nupur Priya, Student

Courtesy: The Telegraph