The Hindu : Front Page : Charge sheet filed against Imrana's father-in-law

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 05, 2005

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Charge sheet filed against Imrana's father-in-law

Victim's statement and accounts of family members included

MUZAFFARNAGAR (U.P.): The police on Monday filed a charge sheet against Ali Mohammed, who allegedly raped his daughter-in-law, Imrana, of this district. The charge sheet included details of her recorded statement and accounts of more than 12 witnesses, including family members.

Ali Mohammed was denied bail by the judicial magistrate on June 27. A local community panchayat had passed a verdict asking the victim to treat her husband as her son. It banned her from living with him following the alleged rape. — PTI

Special Correspondent reports from New Delhi:

Representatives of autonomous women's groups and rights groups have expressed concern over the developments in the Imrana case. Disturbing were the "regressive" discussions among politicians, elected members and community leaders and in the media on what was essentially a case of violence against women, a joint statement said in New Delhi.

"Inhuman diktat"

The "inhuman diktat" by the community panchayat was only the start of injustice against Imrana. There were political parties, which either maintained a cautious silence or used the opportunity to gain political mileage, the statement said.

"Then, of course, is the age-old excuse of `religion and tradition' used by regressive forces to oppress, control, commit and justify violence on women. This, contrary to the current public discourse, is not exclusive to the Muslim community.

"As for the state that is supposed to guarantee the safety and rights of all citizens, we live in times when a magistrate in a Delhi court coerces a rape victim to marry the rapist. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, speaking on Imrana's case, says, `the decision by religious leaders must have been well thought out.' And inspector Upadhyaya, assigned to investigate the case, has already claimed that it is difficult to prove rape medically in married women," the women's groups said.

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