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Why rural sexual violence remains rife in India | Why rural sexual violence remains rife in India |
(about 2 hours later) | |
By Sanjoy Majumder BBC News, Dabra, Haryana | By Sanjoy Majumder BBC News, Dabra, Haryana |
Dabra is a typical village in India's rural Haryana state. | Dabra is a typical village in India's rural Haryana state. |
It has narrow lanes with open drains and small houses built of brick and mud. | It has narrow lanes with open drains and small houses built of brick and mud. |
Children play in the dirt, while men sit around smoking. Not many outsiders visit this poor farming community. | Children play in the dirt, while men sit around smoking. Not many outsiders visit this poor farming community. |
But outside one of the houses two policemen stand on guard. | But outside one of the houses two policemen stand on guard. |
Inside, a 16-year-old girl sits in one of the rooms surrounded by women. | Inside, a 16-year-old girl sits in one of the rooms surrounded by women. |
She is the reason the police are here. | She is the reason the police are here. |
Six weeks ago, she was out walking on the street when she was abducted by a dozen men. | Six weeks ago, she was out walking on the street when she was abducted by a dozen men. |
"They dragged me inside the car and blindfolded me," she says, staring ahead, her voice steady but emotionless. | "They dragged me inside the car and blindfolded me," she says, staring ahead, her voice steady but emotionless. |
"They took me by the side of a river. There, seven of them took turns to rape me. | "They took me by the side of a river. There, seven of them took turns to rape me. |
"The others kept watch." | "The others kept watch." |
'Overcome with shame' | 'Overcome with shame' |
Her ordeal did not end there. The men filmed the assault on their mobile phones and circulated the images in this deeply conservative society. | Her ordeal did not end there. The men filmed the assault on their mobile phones and circulated the images in this deeply conservative society. |
"Her father was so overcome with shame and the humiliation that he poisoned himself," the girl's cousin said. | "Her father was so overcome with shame and the humiliation that he poisoned himself," the girl's cousin said. |
"We rushed him to the hospital but it was too late to save him." | "We rushed him to the hospital but it was too late to save him." |
Nine of the alleged attackers have been arrested. But the others are still at large. | Nine of the alleged attackers have been arrested. But the others are still at large. |
Last year, 733 rapes were reported in Haryana. Most such assaults go unreported. | Last year, 733 rapes were reported in Haryana. Most such assaults go unreported. |
Sexual violence against women takes place all over India. But what stands out in Haryana is the social attitude towards women. | Sexual violence against women takes place all over India. But what stands out in Haryana is the social attitude towards women. |
In a region that is just a short drive from Delhi, the modern capital of one of the word's rising powers, men still call the shots. | In a region that is just a short drive from Delhi, the modern capital of one of the word's rising powers, men still call the shots. |
In the rural district of Jind, a traditional village council meeting is under way. | In the rural district of Jind, a traditional village council meeting is under way. |
Inside a large hall, elderly men sit on wooden cots, smoking pipes. There is a not a single woman among them. | Inside a large hall, elderly men sit on wooden cots, smoking pipes. There is a not a single woman among them. |
And as they have for centuries, they pass judgement - on social mores, on women and on the recent spate of rapes. | And as they have for centuries, they pass judgement - on social mores, on women and on the recent spate of rapes. |
"I'll tell you the main reason for these rapes," explains Suresh Koth, one of the elders. | "I'll tell you the main reason for these rapes," explains Suresh Koth, one of the elders. |
"Just look at what's in the newspapers, on television. Topless women. This is what's corrupting our youth. After all this is India, not Europe." | "Just look at what's in the newspapers, on television. Topless women. This is what's corrupting our youth. After all this is India, not Europe." |
'Kangaroo courts' | 'Kangaroo courts' |
These are comments which cannot be dismissed lightly. | These are comments which cannot be dismissed lightly. |
These are the khaps, the all-male village councils that are tremendously powerful both socially and politically. | These are the khaps, the all-male village councils that are tremendously powerful both socially and politically. |
"They often function like kangaroo courts, creating laws for society, determining what women must do, how people should behave," says rights activist Ranjana Kumari, of the Centre for Social Research. | "They often function like kangaroo courts, creating laws for society, determining what women must do, how people should behave," says rights activist Ranjana Kumari, of the Centre for Social Research. |
"And if people don't follow them, they intimidate them and threaten violence, including honour killings." | "And if people don't follow them, they intimidate them and threaten violence, including honour killings." |
Khaps are unelected bodies but politicians and governments are wary of taking them on. | Khaps are unelected bodies but politicians and governments are wary of taking them on. |
They can help to deliver votes during elections, which means they are often indispensable to politicians. | |
But there is a growing sense of outrage across India at their pronouncements following the recent spate of rapes. | But there is a growing sense of outrage across India at their pronouncements following the recent spate of rapes. |
One council elder was reported as saying that girls should be forced to marry young to protect them from rapists. Others routinely blame Western influences. | One council elder was reported as saying that girls should be forced to marry young to protect them from rapists. Others routinely blame Western influences. |
Many people believe they have no place in a modern, democratic and liberal India. But taking them on is not going to be easy. | Many people believe they have no place in a modern, democratic and liberal India. But taking them on is not going to be easy. |
Back in Dabra, the impact of what happened a few weeks ago is already apparent. | Back in Dabra, the impact of what happened a few weeks ago is already apparent. |
"The girls in my neighbourhood have stopped going to school," the young rape victim says. | "The girls in my neighbourhood have stopped going to school," the young rape victim says. |
"I am frightened too." | "I am frightened too." |
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