By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: Two days after TwoCircles.net disclosed the unpublished National Commission for Women report on the sexual abuse, beating and arrest by the Godhra Police of about two dozen local Muslim women, the local police has swung into action to save its skin by using intimidating measures. Yesterday they arrested Rafique Haji allegedly to put pressure on the victim women to withdraw their complaint against the police. The NCW is sitting on the report for nine months.
Hanif Haji Qalandar, relative of Rafique Haji speaking to TwoCircles.net from Godhra said, “Godhra Police arrested Abdul Rauf Haji alias Rafique Haji on February 10th, two days after TCN broke the story of the National Commission for Women.”
He further said that neither the truck nor the buffaloes, as alleged by the police, belong to Rafique Haji. It’s just another way of intimidation. He alleged that Police is pressurizing him to ask the victim women to withdraw the case against Police from the High Court. However, the police say the Haji is wanted in several cases under cruelty against animal law.
What does the Police say?
When TCN contacted the SP of Godhra Division, Mr. Muthalia, he said “we have not arrested any Rafique Haji but have arrested one Saud Haji against whom there are 3 or 4 offences.”
Hanif Haji Qalandar said that Saud Haji and Rafique Haji is one and the same person and NCW wrongly reported Saud Haji as Rafique Haji.
This is the same person whose arrest was resisted by his family and neighbors in December 2009 and in retaliation of which the heavy police team came later in the night and beat and abused the women.
http://twocircles.net/2011feb08/state_intimidation_sexual_abuse_and_arrest_godhra_muslim_women.html
He further alleged that police inspector Mr. Parmar, who has been accused by NCW for brutality against women, tries to arrest him every now and then in one case or the other and asks him to withdraw the cases against the police.
When TCN contacted, PI Parmar confirmed the arrest of Saud Haji. He said, “Saud Haji is wanted in 4 cases registered in 4 different police stations of Panchmahal District and was absconding but finally arrested on February, 10. He has been charged with the offence under animal cruelty act article 3, 1, 11, D, E, H, and L.” He explained that “Saud is guilty of illegal slaughter of cow.”
While the NCW team which probed the incident in January last year submitted the report in April the same year, the commission is yet to forward the report to the state government and seek action against the guilty police officers.
President of NCW must take action now Priya Hingorani, a Delhi based lawyer who was the member of the NCW committee that investigated the incident, told TCN, “The situation is worst there. Women had been severely brutalized and traumatized. We have submitted our report to the Chairperson of NCW, Ms.Girija Vyas.
It’s up to her now to direct the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi to take action.”
Tripti Shah, Professor, MS University another member is also concerned about the report and asked many times with the NCW office but nothing has been answered to her. She said, “Complainant also filed an RTI about the action taken on the report but no reply is provided to them.” She further said, “Situation in the area is same and justice has not been done with the women victims even the police allegedly involve in the case are doing their duty normally.”
She informed TCN that Sahiyar Stree Sangathna of Baroda has filed an RTI about what happen to the NCW Report. She said, “Even after a month the said NGO could not get the reply and they are planning to move in appeal.”
TCN tried to contact Ms Grija Vyas, chairperson, NCW, and mailed a letter to her to know what action has been taken on the report but no response yet.