Pune: Women Activists Protest Against Hathras Rape, Demand Action Against Culprits
Karishma Jha
Pune, October 2, 2020: Stree Mukti Andolan Sampark Samiti organised a protest on Thursday against the alleged gangrape of a 19-year-old Dalit girl, in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh.
Social activist Kiran Moghe, Medha Patkar and other activists spoke during the demonstration outside the Pune District Collector office.
The 19-year-old belonging to the Valmiki community was working in a field when she was allegedly assaulted by four men from Thakur caste.
“It is clear that the BJP government is trying its best to shield the accused. Although sections of the SCST Act have been invoked, the entire effort appears to be to weaken the case so that it will not stand judicial scrutiny. There is a history to this incident with the same men having assaulted other members of the Dalit family, who have reportedly said that they were habitually harassed by these same people. We strongly condemn the incident”, Moghe said.
Their demands from the government are:
- There should be a judicial enquiry into the entire incident
- All the police and administrative personnel responsible for shielding the culprits should be prosecuted under the SC-ST Act.
- The case proceedings should be video recorded
- The family should be provided protection and compensation
