Pallab Bhattacharyya

The gang rape and murder of Abhaya in the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on 9th August had charged the social and political scenario in India in general and Assam in particular.

On 13 August a 17-year-old girl in Assam’s Sivasagar was sexually assaulted. This incident escalated into a major protest directed against “non-Assamese” business owners in the town, culminating in a threat against “outsiders” by the proscribed militant group ULFA (I), and representatives of Marwari groups kneeling to “apologise” in the presence of a state cabinet minister on 20th August.

The gang rape of a minor girl belonging to a particular community by minority community youths in Dhing Town on August 22 turned out to be the proverbial last straw on the back of the camel.

This, as per a media report, prompted the Assam CM to remark: "Following the Lok Sabha elections, 22 such incidents occurred in Assam and today’s incident makes it 23. Some special people are associated with these acts. After the elections, these people have been encouraged, therefore such incidents have spiked up. We will take the toughest possible actions. I have also sent the Assam DGP and cabinet minister Pijush Hazarika to review the situation in Dhing."

The subsequent turn of events indicates that the prime accused Tafazzul Ali died when he fell into a pond while being chased by the Nagaon Police. The people of Borbheti (the accused hails from this village) are mainly Muslims and they excommunicated the family of the accused boycotted his funeral and didn’t allow his burial at their local cemetery.

The above sequence of events highlighted many important issues that deserve the attention of society in general and Government in particular:

• The death of Tafazzul Ali is likely to raise issues like custodial death which will be transparent only after a proper investigation by police. The case of V C Sajjanar, the then CP Cyberabad who is an efficient officer but got embroiled in the alleged encounter killing in December 2019 of four accused in the rape and murder of Disha at Chattanpally near Shadnagar in Telangana is a grim reminder.
• Assam has become the state with the highest rate of crime against women in India for the 5th consecutive year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) figures for 2021. Assam has recorded over a 50% fall in crime against women in the last five years as per the NCRB report for 2022. This indicates how proactive police action can reduce the recurrence of gender violence.  
• Freebies by Governments in various forms have created some idle youths who subscribe to the maxim “An idle mind is devil’s workshop. This can only be addressed at the political level.
• The ubiquitous mobile in every youth’s hands thanks to the Digital India Mission initiated 13 years ago without the concomitant cyber security framework and easy availability of pornographic materials online has aggravated the situation.
• The rise of unemployment and the absence of proportionate steps to utilize Demographic Dividend to its advantage in the State has also queered the pitch.

Protesters draw graffiti on the hospital compound during a protest against the rape-murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital, in Kolkata

• Educational institutions and society in general must be proactively involved in preventing such heinous crimes.
• Culturally and institutionally embedded discrimination, and structural violence through laws, traditions, and misogynistic language.
• Substance Abuse like drug usage, etc. has to be addressed.
• Cultural and Social Norms-Patriarchy-Deep-rooted patriarchal values that treat women as inferior or subordinate.10. Lack of Education and lack of awareness leads to women not knowing their rights. Educational inequality leads to fewer opportunities for women to attain education
• Women often lack financial independence, making them more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.12. Weak law enforcement inadequate police response and judicial delays also contribute to this phenomenon.

Crime against women requires a multi-pronged strategy in a pluralistic society like Assam for its resolution. The state is obligated to prevent and address violence against women through its law-enforcing agency and training of healthcare and legal staff to create public awareness and initiate legislative measures.

Society should promote gender-equitable behaviour, condemn misogynist products and entertainment, and enable support and counseling for witnesses and victims.

The Media, as the fourth pillar of democracy should publicise successful public awareness initiatives, integrated support for survivours, and political advocacy for structural change.

Successful interventions in Germany, Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina may be a model for such interventions.

The community to which the offenders of such heinous crimes belong to should come forward to help security agencies proactively apprehend the culprits which has happened in the Dhing case and has a salutary effect. The LEA on its part should be palpably transparent in its investigation to garner the support of the public.

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The famous quote by Nelson Mandela is the guiding principle that people in Assam should realize:” Safety and security don't just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment.”

(The writer is a former DGP, Assam Police & former chairman of Assam Public ServiceCommission)