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print versionDated: February 9, 2013
OPEN LETTER TO DELHI POLICE AND OTHER AUTHORITIES
DEMANDING ACTION AGAINST THE POLICE
FOR SEXUAL ABUSE, VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION
Shri Neeraj Kumarji,
We, the undersigned individuals and organizations, are shocked by the reports of sexual harassment and sexual violence perpetrated by the police (in tacit association with some supporters of Narendra Modi), through its words, gestures and actions, on students who were protesting outside Shri Ram College of Commerce and at Maurice Nagar Police Station on February 6, 2013.
We are also dismayed by the vindictive, undemocratic and preemptive manner in which the police have filed ‘rioting’ and other criminal cases on February 7, 2013, against the protestors and victims of sexual harassment after they had filed FIRs against police harassment, while allowing the errant police personnel and others involved in taunting and beating up the protesting students to go free. The FIR is clearly meant to intimidate the students and frighten them into silence so that they do not file any further complaints against the criminal conduct of the police and Modi supporters. With the threat of criminal charges over their heads, if they so much as admit to being present at the protest to exercise their democratic rights, and especially when they are not guilty of any wrongdoing, students will be scared to complain against the ghastly sexual harassment.
On 6th of February, there was a large protest outside SRCC, Delhi University, against the invitation of and talk by Mr Modi by SRCC Students Union. The protest was organised by various students’ groups and individuals. The road in front of SRCC had 3 rows of barricades on each side, some of which were subsequently broken. Not only was the Delhi police extremely vicious in their handling of the situation, their actions were also highly sexist and communal. They passed lewd remarks about women standing near the barricade. Some made kissing gestures and noises, asked women to come closer and talk to them. They also very openly stared and laughed at women in a way that was clearly sexist and disgusting, whistling and winking at and even groping the female students and beating them (and the boys) up sadistically with lathis. In addition water cannons were also used against them. They used the choicest abuses, with ‘kuttia’ (bitch) being among the mildest. When a woman student demanded that women police officers be present at the barricade as well to confront women students, she was told ‘aap aurat kahaan se hain’ (in what way are you a woman?). Women were also told repeatedly to give up as they were too weak to break barricades.
In all this harassment, students supporting Mr Modi and the police seemed to be in connivance with each other, and literally amusing themselves in their harassment of the female protestors Some students (apparently from the ABVP) who were supporting Mr. Modi seemed to have the approval and indulgence of the police. They were allowed on the other side of the barricade. A few even climbed on to the police water cannons and danced on them as they were aimed at the protestors. Some openly threatened female students with Gujarat-like consequences – “Jo Gujarat mein huya vaise tujh me ghusa doonga†(Will thrust into you, as was done in Gujarat), while brandishing a lathi and similar objects. But none of these people was picked up by the police or detained. Instead, after lathi charging students, laughing and joking as they did so, the police engaged in picking up some of the anti-Modi protestors (including young women) and pushing them into a crowd of pro-Modi youth who then beat them in full view of the police. Some anti-Modi protestors were picked up and taken to the police station, and beaten up on the way (including on the head and groin with lathis). These included some students who had not crossed any barricades and were only shouting slogans and then protesting at the police behaviour. At the police station, women students who had come to enquire about others who had been picked up by the police were groped and felt up by the police when they tried to enter. (See a few eyewitness accounts in reference cited below)
We are outraged by the sexually abusive and violent behaviour of men in uniform, behavior that has no place in discharge of the ‘law and order’ duties of police. This behaviour is offensive and unacceptable, especially coming from those entrusted with the task of protecting the citizenry, and is compounded manifold by the police actually aiding lumpen elements in sexual harassment of young women.
Coming in the wake of the recent horrific gang rape in Delhi, this raises huge questions and concerns about the safety of women in Delhi. How can young students ever have the confidence to approach the police to register complaints about sexual violence when policemen themselves indulge in this kind of sexual abuse and permit sexual intimidation in their very presence?
In the evening, when some of us learnt these details, we called up Ms. Sindhu Pillai DCP/North and spoke to her on the phone. She was in complete denial, extremely hostile and blamed the students themselves. Our concerns were simply dismissed with a response that we should “file a complaint,†with justification of the actions of the police. However, in the light of subsequent events, the real intent behind this advice was possibly to identify more protestors so that the police could file criminal cases against the students. Whom should victims of police sexual violence turn to when even senior women officers of DCP rank harbour notions that girls should be “controlled†and should not be out protesting on the streets? What is it if not a reflection of the mindset that girls invite trouble upon themselves by simply being out?
It is an extremely grave and worrisome reflection on the administration of the police force that nothing seems to have changed on the ground, even after tens of thousands protested on the streets of Delhi barely a month ago. How many more crimes will it take, how many more women will have to suffer harassment and violence, and die gruesome deaths, before the police reforms itself, and imbibes gender sensitivity, discipline and a sense of duty and responsibility towards the common citizens of this country? How can we ensure that the police just does its job?
The lack of accountability of the police is one of the significant reasons for the rampant sexual violence in the city and country. If there is any political will to stop this, it must manifest itself through :
- an immediate withdrawal of the vindictive and intimidatory police FIR which will deter any student from coming forward to complain against sexual harassment;
- suspension of errant officers (the concerned SHOs, ACP and DCP) pending a transparent, and public, inquiry by officers who inspire public confidence.
Prompt and strict action alone can end this impunity. We demand that the state and central governments demonstrate their intent and sincerity to make Delhi a safe place.
- Prof. Malini Bhattacharya, Ex Chairperson, NCW
- Prof Uma Chakravarti (Retd), Delhi University
- Brinda Karat, Former MP, Rajya Sabha
- Prof Nandini Sundar, Delhi University
- Prof Utsa Patnaik (Retd),, JNU
- Prof.Vimal Thorat
- Githa Hariharan, Author
- Prof Zoya Hasan, JNU
- Prof Mary E John, Centre for Women’s Studies and Development
- Seema Mustafa, Centre for Policy Analysis
- Shabnam Hashmi, Anhad
- Sehba Faruqui, AIDWA
- Annie Raja, NFIW
- Kalpana Mehta, SAHELI
- Kavita Shrivastava, PUCL
- Vrinda Grover, Advocate
- Prof Satish Deshpande, Delhi University
- Prof Prabhat Patnaik (Retd), JNU
- Prof. Amiya Bagchi, Institute of Development Studies Kolkata
- Prof Kamal Mitra Chenoy, JNU
- Prof Anand Chakravarti (Retd), Delhi University
- Prof. Mukul Priyadarshini, Delhi University
- Prof. Rajni Palriwala, Delhi University
- Prof Dwijendra Nath Kalia, Delhi University
- Prof Sumangala Damodaran, Delhi University
- Prof Saumyajit Bhattacharya, Delhi University
- Prof Pragati Mahapatra, Delhi University
- Prof Ashwini Deshpande, Delhi University
- Prof Lata Singh, Delhi University
- Prof Shamsul Islam, Delhi University
- Prof Mona Das, Delhi University
- Prof Shashishekhar Singh, Delhi University
- Prof Inder Dutt, Delhi University
- Prof Tara Negi, Delhi University
- Prof Reyaz Ahmad, Delhi University
- Prof. Ravinder Jha, Delhi University
- Prof Rajiv Jha, Delhi University
- Jagmati Sangwan, AIDWA
- Prof Jayati Ghosh, JNU
- Prof Anuradha Chenoy, JNU
- Prof. Janaki Nair, JNU
- Prof Kumkum Roy, JNU
- Ranjana Nirula, CITU
- AR Sindhu, AIFAWH
- Prof SS Jodhka, JNU
- Prof. CP Chandrashekar, JNU
- Surajit Mazumdar, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Prof Mritiunjoy Mohanty, IIM, Kolkata
- Ram Rahman, SAHMAT
- Prof. K J Mukherjee, JNU
- Prof. Praveen Jha, JNU
- Prof Mohan Rao, JNU
- Prof Girish Aggarwal, IIT, Delhi
- Arindam Banerjee, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Nandini Rao
- Prof Ayesha Kidwai, JNU
- Prof Rohit, South Asian University (SAU)
- Smita Gupta, AIDWA
- Akhila Singh, Indian School of Women’s Studies and Development
- Prof. G Arunima, JNU
- Sadhna Arya
- Harsh Kapoor, South Asia Citizens Web
- Indira Chakravarthi, Women Against Sexual Violence & State Repression
- Prof. Archana Prasad, Jamia Millia Islamia
- Prof Vamsi Vakulabharanam, University of Hyderabad
- Shalini Gera, DU
- Prof Shamim Modi, TISS
- Justin Burrett (BCL)
- Mamata Dash, WSS, Delhi
- Komita Dhanda, JANAM
- Anurag Modi, Shramik Adivasi Sangthan
- Prof G Omkarnath, University of Hyderabad
- Asha Mishra (BGVS)
- Manoj Kulkarni (Tulika Samwad)
- Prof Anoop Saraya (AIIMS)
- Neelima Sharma (Artist)
- Sameer Dossani (Journalist)
- Dr Rahul Singh (Delhi)
- Dipa Sinha, JNU
- Shweta, JNU
- Sanjay Basu Mullick, All India Forum of Forest Movements (AIFFM)
- Zakia Soman, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan
- Suneeta Dhar
- Madhu Bala
- Rahul Roy
- Kamayani Bali Mahabal ( Human rights lawyer and activist )
- Uma V. Chandru, WSS Karnataka
- Shraddha Chickeru
- Geetha Nambisan
- Elisabeth Armstrong
- Madhurima Nundy
- Prof. N. Raghuram, President, IPU Teachers Association
- Prof Vijita S Aggarwal, IP University
- Bhargavi Dilipkumar, Delhi Forum
- Prof Shalini Arora, IGIT
- Annie Jangam
- Sarvesh Tripathi USMC, IP University
- Prof. Chhaya Ravi Kant, IP University
- Nakul Sawhney
- Prof Ritoo Jerath, JNU
- Vimal Bhai, NAPM
- Kiran Shaheen, Women for Water Democracy
- Anurag Modi, Shramik Adivasi Sangathan
- Warisha Farasat, Lawyer
- Anjali Sinha
- Nalini Vishwanathan
