IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board
It isn't honour killing in the sense that one would associate with the Khap panchayats of northern India. Nonetheless, it is certainly about killing the honour of poor Adivasi girls who dare to fall in love with boys from other communities. These girls from Bengal have, in recent months, faced the ignominy of being paraded naked through the lanes of their villages. At least four such cases have been flashed by daily newspapers within a few days of this month. These incidents occurred a few months back.
Villagers were aware of the crimes but nobody reported the cases to the police or the civil administration. Even the heads of the village panchayats opted for inaction. One of these Adivasi girls is now living in police custody. The panchayat pradhans, who are responsible for reporting such cases to the police, chose not to do so for reasons best known to them. And now, after being questioned by a visiting team of the West Bengal Women's Commission, they are seeking refuge behind lame excuses. The role of the police is also under the scanner.
The first case, which shocked civil society, happened a few months back. A young girl, aged 17 according to police, was subjected to inhuman torture and molestation. As her life was under threat, she was forced to do the bidding of the marauding mob.
Over a thousand Adivasi youths stripped her at Bartala village and paraded her naked through a stretch of about 8 km. Throughout, the mob kept molesting girl. By the end of the ordeal, her body was badly bruised, police sources confirmed. 'Some of the youths even bit her,' a member of the Women's Commission said. It was only three months later that the police came to know of this atrocity. Some journalists who stumbled upon MMS clips of the incident lodged a complaint. Some local youths who were part of the mob, recorded the harried girl on their mobile phones and mailed these clips to their friends. A journalist, who doesn't want to be named, brought that clip to the police. Only then did the police swing into action. They rescued the girl and brought her to a government-run home at the sub-division headquarters. Later, six persons were arrested.
According to the district administration, the tribal girl was targeted because she was in love with a Muslim boy, the manager of a local stone quarry. The girl, Anita Hansda (name changed), was a labourer in the same quarry. The villagers, who kept mum before the Women's Commission members, say the girl and the boy, Chandan Ali, were warned several times. But they paid no heed.
While the Women's Commission delegation was at Rampurhat, two more women from Nimpahadi village of Mohammadbazar block came to complain about torture and molestation. According to the chairperson of the Women's Commission, one was a divorcee, the other unmarried. 'They went to work in a quarry on June 23. When they were on their way back, two young male co-workers from another community offered them a lift on their bikes and dropped them near a jungle of the village.' The women complained, 'Villagers kept us captive at the anganwadi centre for the night. The next day, they forced us to walk naked through the village.' According to the district superintendent of police, Humayun Kabir, 'The police registered an FIR on June 28 against nine persons. They surrendered at the district court in Siuri and are now on bail.' Another similar crime, which was committed a few months earlier, was also reported from Mohammadbazar block. Interestingly, the panchayat pradhans of all the villages belong to the CPM. The pradhan of Bartala village, Mangal Baskey, told the Women's Commission, 'I was not at home on the day the minor girl was assaulted. I came to know later. But the situation was not conducive to lodging a complaint with the police.'
With regard to the case in Nimpahadi, Sachin Dhyangar, CPM district committee member from Mohammadbazar, said, 'The police were informed about these two women's confinement on June 23 night itself on the party's behalf. But they did nothing.' Mohammadbazar MLA Dhiren Bagdi (CPM) said, 'The lackadaisical police investigation helped the accused in Nimpahadi get bail.'
Panchami and Mohammadbazar are known for their stone quarries. Most of these are on illegally grabbed tribal land. Pollution levels are high here. Many lost their lives in quarry blasts triggered with substandard dynamites and explosives.
Adivasis of the area, under the leadership of Adivasi Gaonta, revolted in May and boycotted the quarries. Attacks by the quarry owners followed. The tribals hit back. In these violent incidents, five people lost their lives. Evenntually, even the state government had to accept that most of the quarries here were illegal.
A few weeks back, a delegation of the Gaonta met the state chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, at Writers' Building. The CM then visited the area. Yet, the quarries could not be reopened due to lack of licenses and legal documents. And this impasse has a connection with the attacks on tribal women.
Gaonta sources, as well as a section of CPM followers, allege that the attacks on Adivasi girls have been instigated by quarry owners to create fear and confusion in the minds of the tribals.
A Gaonta leader explained, 'Though nobody is allowed to buy Adivasi land, quarry owners have had their eyes on these tracts for about a decade. They would initially employ Adivasi girls, mostly minors, and taking advantage of their poverty, sexually abuse them. Later, the managers and suppliers of the quarries, mostly Muslims, developed relationships with the girls and married them.'
In several cases, these girls were made to undergo a surgery to prevent motherhood. After marriage, they inherited a part of the tribal land and then forced to sell or lease it out. Says CPM activist Mangal Kisku: 'Adivasis are a close-knit community. Since our Charka revolt (the move to prevent the functioning of the quarries) the people's resolve not to part with any more Adivasi land has been strengthened. And therein lies the catch. The stooges of the quarry owners would once get away with unjust means, but not anymore. It isn't possible to browbeat the tribals anymore.'
According to Gaonta leader Rabin Soren, the Adivasis are now on their toes and always ready to rush wherever a tribal girl is subjected to molestation. "But we were prevented by the local political leadership and administration from doing so," he says.
Women's Commission member Sarbani Bhattacharjee asks: Why did the police keep mum for so long? If the panchayat pradhan can be show caused for dereliction of duty, why shouldn't the officers-in-charge of the police station face similar action?' The role of local CPM leaders is certainly suspect. Why didn't they bring the heinous incidents to the CM's notice when he visited the area? No excuse can exonerate them.
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It isn't honour killing in the sense that one would associate with the Khap panchayats of northern India. Nonetheless, it is certainly about killing the honour of poor Adivasi girls who dare to fall in love with boys from other communities. These girls from Bengal have, in recent months, faced the ignominy of being paraded naked through the lanes of their villages. At least four such cases have been flashed by daily newspapers within a few days of this month. These incidents occurred a few months back.
Villagers were aware of the crimes but nobody reported the cases to the police or the civil administration. Even the heads of the village panchayats opted for inaction. One of these Adivasi girls is now living in police custody. The panchayat pradhans, who are responsible for reporting such cases to the police, chose not to do so for reasons best known to them. And now, after being questioned by a visiting team of the West Bengal Women's Commission, they are seeking refuge behind lame excuses. The role of the police is also under the scanner.
The first case, which shocked civil society, happened a few months back. A young girl, aged 17 according to police, was subjected to inhuman torture and molestation. As her life was under threat, she was forced to do the bidding of the marauding mob.
Over a thousand Adivasi youths stripped her at Bartala village and paraded her naked through a stretch of about 8 km. Throughout, the mob kept molesting girl. By the end of the ordeal, her body was badly bruised, police sources confirmed. 'Some of the youths even bit her,' a member of the Women's Commission said. It was only three months later that the police came to know of this atrocity. Some journalists who stumbled upon MMS clips of the incident lodged a complaint. Some local youths who were part of the mob, recorded the harried girl on their mobile phones and mailed these clips to their friends. A journalist, who doesn't want to be named, brought that clip to the police. Only then did the police swing into action. They rescued the girl and brought her to a government-run home at the sub-division headquarters. Later, six persons were arrested.
According to the district administration, the tribal girl was targeted because she was in love with a Muslim boy, the manager of a local stone quarry. The girl, Anita Hansda (name changed), was a labourer in the same quarry. The villagers, who kept mum before the Women's Commission members, say the girl and the boy, Chandan Ali, were warned several times. But they paid no heed.
While the Women's Commission delegation was at Rampurhat, two more women from Nimpahadi village of Mohammadbazar block came to complain about torture and molestation. According to the chairperson of the Women's Commission, one was a divorcee, the other unmarried. 'They went to work in a quarry on June 23. When they were on their way back, two young male co-workers from another community offered them a lift on their bikes and dropped them near a jungle of the village.' The women complained, 'Villagers kept us captive at the anganwadi centre for the night. The next day, they forced us to walk naked through the village.' According to the district superintendent of police, Humayun Kabir, 'The police registered an FIR on June 28 against nine persons. They surrendered at the district court in Siuri and are now on bail.' Another similar crime, which was committed a few months earlier, was also reported from Mohammadbazar block. Interestingly, the panchayat pradhans of all the villages belong to the CPM. The pradhan of Bartala village, Mangal Baskey, told the Women's Commission, 'I was not at home on the day the minor girl was assaulted. I came to know later. But the situation was not conducive to lodging a complaint with the police.'
With regard to the case in Nimpahadi, Sachin Dhyangar, CPM district committee member from Mohammadbazar, said, 'The police were informed about these two women's confinement on June 23 night itself on the party's behalf. But they did nothing.' Mohammadbazar MLA Dhiren Bagdi (CPM) said, 'The lackadaisical police investigation helped the accused in Nimpahadi get bail.'
Panchami and Mohammadbazar are known for their stone quarries. Most of these are on illegally grabbed tribal land. Pollution levels are high here. Many lost their lives in quarry blasts triggered with substandard dynamites and explosives.
Adivasis of the area, under the leadership of Adivasi Gaonta, revolted in May and boycotted the quarries. Attacks by the quarry owners followed. The tribals hit back. In these violent incidents, five people lost their lives. Evenntually, even the state government had to accept that most of the quarries here were illegal.
A few weeks back, a delegation of the Gaonta met the state chief minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, at Writers' Building. The CM then visited the area. Yet, the quarries could not be reopened due to lack of licenses and legal documents. And this impasse has a connection with the attacks on tribal women.
Gaonta sources, as well as a section of CPM followers, allege that the attacks on Adivasi girls have been instigated by quarry owners to create fear and confusion in the minds of the tribals.
A Gaonta leader explained, 'Though nobody is allowed to buy Adivasi land, quarry owners have had their eyes on these tracts for about a decade. They would initially employ Adivasi girls, mostly minors, and taking advantage of their poverty, sexually abuse them. Later, the managers and suppliers of the quarries, mostly Muslims, developed relationships with the girls and married them.'
In several cases, these girls were made to undergo a surgery to prevent motherhood. After marriage, they inherited a part of the tribal land and then forced to sell or lease it out. Says CPM activist Mangal Kisku: 'Adivasis are a close-knit community. Since our Charka revolt (the move to prevent the functioning of the quarries) the people's resolve not to part with any more Adivasi land has been strengthened. And therein lies the catch. The stooges of the quarry owners would once get away with unjust means, but not anymore. It isn't possible to browbeat the tribals anymore.'
According to Gaonta leader Rabin Soren, the Adivasis are now on their toes and always ready to rush wherever a tribal girl is subjected to molestation. "But we were prevented by the local political leadership and administration from doing so," he says.
Women's Commission member Sarbani Bhattacharjee asks: Why did the police keep mum for so long? If the panchayat pradhan can be show caused for dereliction of duty, why shouldn't the officers-in-charge of the police station face similar action?' The role of local CPM leaders is certainly suspect. Why didn't they bring the heinous incidents to the CM's notice when he visited the area? No excuse can exonerate them.
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
INDIA'S BEST COLLEGES, INSTITUTES and UNIVERSITIES
An array of unconventional career options
Indian universities and higher education institutes seem to be caught in a time warp teaching things
Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU): Students' Unions can not be banned
The hunt for hostel and paying guest (PG) accommodation for students
Best Colleges for Vocational Courses in India
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