The Hindu : National : Home Ministry seeks report on alleged rape of casual worker

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 17, 2006

National

National

Home Ministry seeks report on alleged rape of casual worker

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Sexually assaulted, and her right hand cut off to pressure her to withdraw the complaint against the accused, Kamla Bai is a shattered person.

A casual agricultural worker in a village in Raisena — the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's constituency — Kamla Bai and her sister were reportedly gang-raped by five upper caste men in December last year. Two of the accused are government teachers. When the two women lodged a complaint with the police, they were pressured to withdraw it. The accused reportedly dismembered Kamla Bai's right hand on December 7. Her husband Prakash Gond was arrested on false charges, tortured and even made to sign on blank papers while in custody.

"Worse, doubts have been raised over our morality," Kamla Bai told reporters here on Wednesday at the office of the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) which has taken up the case. The police did arrest the culprits but the cases registered against them were weak, thus ensuring they got bail. While she was in hospital, a delegation of the State Women's Commission visited her only to ask her to withdraw the case for which they promised her money. "How much money can they give me? I want hand for hand," Kamla Bai said.

The matter was raised in the winter session of Parliament by AIDWA president and M.P. Brinda Karat who also met Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil in this connection on Tuesday. Mr. Patil has sought a report from the Madhya Pradesh Government within a week.

"The issue is not only of injustice being meted out to her but also of her being deprived of livelihood because she cannot work anymore," Ms. Karat said.

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