Brutality against woman in Karimganj; 4 put behind bars, police searching for others

Brutality has reached new heights, cruelty has conquered human minds and humanity is suffocated in a closed dark room dying a slow death. A women was stripped naked by a group of fellow women and then they rubbed chilli powder all across her private parts. The woman cried out of pain, pleaded for help and guess what others did, filmed the entire scene of brutality and posted it on Social media.

The incident took place in Karimganj district’s Magura village. There are many rumours floating around, some say she was tortured for selling illegal liquor, some say she was tortured for allegedly having an affair, some say she owed money, what is true and real is something yet to be determined. What happened after the incident occured on September 10, 2018 is a bigger shock. The women went for help to Magura Police station but the she was laughed off. Till September 21 police did not arrest anybody nor was a case being registered. September 21, the video went viral, the story of a woman’s painful struggle was shared again and again and again and somehow it reached the newsroom of TV channels.

Regional news channels started broadcasting first and then few national ones picked it up. Pressure mounted on both Karimganj Police and State Government of Assam, show-cause was issued to the incharge of Magura Police Out Post. DSP, Incharge of Bazaricherra along with a huge team of Police officials marched to the Village and brought 19 women in their Police van. After initial interrogation case was filed against four of the 19.

“We are taking this with all seriousness and sincerity. At 4 o’clock in the morning we raided the village and arrested a few including the woman who masterminded the entire outrage. We have the video with us and we are identifying culprits through it. We will soon arrest all others who are involved in this vicious crime,” said Gaurav Upadhyay, SP, Karimganj Police.

All seriousness? It took 11 days, a viral video and regional and national shame for Karimganj Police to break their slumber. A police out post did not consider the case worthy enough to lodge a report, till September 21, it was all callousness and anything but sincerity or seriousness. Such casual treatment from Police is root of mob justice – the vicious tree growing and spreading its branches all over. For now, let us hope the lady gets some justice and soon.