The Hindu : New Delhi News : An affront to the dignity of women, says Brinda

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An affront to the dignity of women, says Brinda

Aarti Dhar

CBI’s language in Abhaya case charge sheet

Brinda seeks Prime Minister’s intervention
Wants action against the officers concerned

NEW DELHI: Communist Party of India (Marxist) member in the Rajya Sabha Brinda Karat has expressed “shock and outrage” over the language used in the charge sheet against a woman accused in the Sister Abhaya case.

The language used in the charge sheet against the accused in the Sister Abhaya case is “vulgar and unscientific.”

Writes to Manmohan

“It is an affront to the dignity of women, it is insulting to the woman concerned and also reflects a perverted mentality,” Ms. Karat said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

She sought Dr. Singh’s intervention in the matter to ensure disciplinary action and prosecution under the relevant Section of the laws against the officers concerned.

The language used in the charge sheet against the woman accused invited criminal action against the officials concerned under law pertaining to protection of a woman’s dignity and against harassment as also against obscenity, the letter said.

Unfortunately, in many cases concerning women, including victims of rape, the language used by the investigative agencies is often highly offensive. In this case, it is the accused who is the victim of the CBI’s objectionable language.

“I support all efforts to bring the guilty persons to book and bring justice to the murdered nun. While holding no quarter for the accused, I request you to send a strong message to all investigating agencies that minimum standards of respect to the dignity of women will be protected. If the premier investigative agency of the country can use such objectionable language, what can women expect from local investigation officers,” Ms. Karat said.

Unnecessary: NFIW

Meanwhile, the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) also described as “unnecessary” the remarks against the accused.

The brief of the CBI is to investigate the case and not to define morality and character.

The federation demanded that the Minister in-charge of the CBI should immediately intervene and take appropriate action against the officers who have done this outrageous act.

This incident shows that the CBI officers need urgent gender sensitisation training, it said.

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