By Nidha Parveen, TwoCircles.net
A recent report by the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) states that as many as 45 people were sexually assaulted by the Delhi police during a confrontation at Jamia Nagar on 10 February during protests against CAA, NRC and NPR. “Women were molested by male policemen, who attempted to tear their clothes, punched their breasts or stomped on them with their boots, as well as tried to insert their batons into their vaginas. At least 15 women were stomped on in their private parts, and they suffered injuries in their vaginas,” the report says.
The report confirms the assault verified by the doctors who treated the survivors for cracked and fractured ribs, ankles and bones, adding that there was “fierceness of assault” on the victims.
This is not the first time where the Delhi police is accused of sexual violence and harassment against women.
The Delhi Minority Commission’s fact-finding report also alleged sexual violence cases against Delhi Police. The report cites a complaint of a woman from Dayalpur, describing the Delhi Police busting a sit-in protest against the CAA in Chand Bagh, alleging, “Police pulled their pants down and pointed their genitals towards the women stating that they wanted ‘freedom’ and they were there to give them ‘freedom’ and that this was their ‘freedom.’
Citing other complaints, testimonies and media reports, the report says that while rioters sexually assaulted Muslim women and attacked them with acid, the Delhi Police did not respond to calls begging them for help.
Furthermore, two women and a teenager and all residents of Subash Mohalla in North East Delhi’s North Ghonda neighbourhood, accused officials of Delhi Bajanpura’s police station of beating and sexually assaulting them. A few days ago, Shaheen Khan, Shanno and her 17-year-old daughter from the same area went to Bhajanpura police station to file an FIR against communal slogans and harassment of Muslims in north-east Delhi by Hindutva goons on the night of Bhumi Pooja. They accused the policemen of beating and sexually assaulting them inside the police station. They said the policemen also threatened to kill them.
According to the testimony revealed by The Caravan, the girl said that police officials misbehaved in a very filthy manner, they touched her waist and sometimes near her chest.
Several instances including the aforementioned show how the police personnel who need to prevent crimes and ensure safety act like criminals, with a long record of heinous crimes.
Ground reports on crimes against Muslim women, including sexual violence and murder, were witnessed during the Northeast violence.
The so-called Progressive and Savrana feminists maintain shameless silence and sheer apathy in this dubious crime who otherwise fill their social media walls with gender issues. Interestingly, these feminists declare Muslim women-led struggle as ‘all women’ struggle or feminist revolutionary movement and hail them for ‘breaking’ patriarchy and appearing in ‘public.’
Erstwhile ‘saviours’ including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is loquacious on ‘saving’ Muslim women were mute spectators on large scale sexual violence against Muslim women in northeast Delhi. It is outrageous that no FIR has been filed to date regarding the injuries suffered in these barbarous acts. On the release of the report, activist Aruna Roy said that the independent fact-finding missions are ‘critical’ because “no one can trust investigation agencies in the current scenario”.
Nidha Parveen is a BA Hons Sociology student at Hindu College, Delhi University