Date: Wed, 16 Oct 1996 19:04:29 +0100 (BST)
From: Imran Markar <im204-AT-hermes.cam.ac.uk>
Subject: Re: petition


 
> > Honorable Chief Minister
> > The Government of Rajasthan
> > Vidhan Soudha
> > Jaipur 302001
> > Rajasthan, India.
> > 
> > 
> > October 15, 1996
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Dear Sir:
> > 
> > 
> > Subject: Our protest against the rape of Dhapu Bai
> > 
> > 
> >         We the undersigned file this petition to express our outrage at the
> > rape and torture of Dhapu Bai, an adivasi woman, in the village of Utharna
> > in Tonk district in the state of Rajasthan.  As you perhaps know, this
> > gruesome incident  took place on June 15, 1996.  We also express our anger
> > at the violent beating of Dhapu Bai's husband and son that occurred on the
> > same day.
> > 
> >         Dhapu Bai was gang-raped in front of her husband Jagdish and son
> > Dharam Raj by some twenty henchmen of a liquor contractor named Meghraj and
> > a head constable of Deoli police.  Jagdish and Dharam Raj were severely
> > beaten with iron rods.  Finally, these three poor victims were left by the
> > police outside a local hospital where Dhapu Bai regained consciousness
> > after four days.  Needless to say, the family went through a horrible
> > physical and emotional trauma.
> > 
> >         We refrain from describing in further details the rape and physical
> > abuse because no description can match the real incident that surpassed all
> > limits of human behavior.  Through this petition, we strongly demand
> > justice to Dhapu Bai and her family.  We are aware that some of the
> > criminals have been arrested upon agitation by women's groups and
> > subsequent media attention on this case.  However, in light of the fact
> > that the medical report on Dhapu Bai does not mention any rape and some of
> > the arrested criminals are already free on bail, we are apprehensive that
> > other pieces of evidence will be tampered with and all the criminals will
> > be acquitted.
> > 
> >         We the undersigned therefore strongly demand to you and your
> > government that the case be dealt with in extreme urgency and care and in
> > the interim, Dhapu Bai and her family be given ample financial and legal
> > compensation if it has not been done already.  We also demand that the
> > criminals, however socially and politically powerful they are, be arrested
> > forthwith and brought to justice -- thereby setting a precedent that will
> > keep other criminals of committing such acts of barbarism and terror.
> > 
> >         We are sending out copies of this petition to various Indian
> > newspapers and women's organizations.
> > 
> >         Thank you for your attention.
> > 
> > 
> > Sincerely yours,
> > N. I. Markar
    Wolfson College
    University of Cambridge
    Cambridge
>   UK
>