By Jai Birdi, Chetna Association of Canada

The tragic loss of Manisha, India’s daughter, a 19 year old teenager, has sent a shock wave across the globe.  People had not yet forgotten the “Nirbhaya Case”; and now, Manisha was brutally gang raped, her tongue was slashed, spine cracked, and severely tortured on September 14, 2020.

Manisha died in the hospital after two weeks of her rape. Manisha took her last breath on September 29.

Before allowing her soul to depart, Manisha took the strength. And she disclosed names of four perpetrators who have now been arrested.  In the meantime, the departed soul and her family are waiting for justice.  Will the departed soul and the family get justice? More importantly, will it be delivered in a timely manner?  These, and many others, are questions being discussed in smaller gatherings- and on social media. Manjit Bains, chair for the women’s empowerment committee of Chetna Association of Canada, is one such member who has participated in such virtual and in person conversations.  Manjit has also expressed her and Chetna’s condolences.

In a virtual message, Bains read the following statement on behalf of Chetna Association of Canada:

“On behalf of the Chetna Association of Canada, I am expressing our heartfelt condolences for the family of Manisha, who recently lost her life when heinous crimes were committed against her.”

 “We request that the Government of India and the Government of Utter Pardes bring justice to Manisha and her family.

We also request that stronger safeguards and protection for women in India be enacted with an objective of eliminating all acts of crime and violence on women in India.

And, furthermore, we further request that the educational campaigns and initiatives such as "beti bachao" be strengthened and outcomes of such initiatives be shared publicly.  Such actions are needed to enhance equality, dignity, respect, and empowerment of all women; and, most importantly, for Dalit women who continue to be at a much greater risk of being targeted for heinous crimes in India.  These actions would also support India's role and contribution in eliminating inequality and achieving United Nations sustainable goals”, asserted Bains.

According to various reports posted on social media, crime rate in Utter Pardes is on the rise.

According to the annual report of the National Crime Bureau Data, a rape case is registered with the UP police every two hours and the state sees a crime against a child every 90 minutes. As per the data available for 2018, 144 girls below the age of eighteen were reportedly raped in 2018 against 139 in 2017.

In a horrific case in August 2020, a 13 year was raped in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district. According to NDTV the girl was strangled, her tongue cut, eyes pulled out and her body was found in a sugarcane field. The police has arrested two men. Her body was found in the fields of one of the accused according to the report <https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/uttar-pradesh-lakhimpur-kheri-13-year-old-raped-strangled-eyes-gouged-tongue-cut-says-father-2280106?pfrom=home-topscroll>

A three-year-old girl has been found dead in a sugarcane field in the district of Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh. Autopsy reports have confirmed that the minor was sexually assaulted https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/18-month-old-raped-fathers-friend/ and strangled to death. This is the third case of rape-murder of a minor in Lakhimpur Kheri district, in the past 20 days (Sep. 2020).

In a horrific incident a 17-year-old girl was raped and her body mutilated near a village in Uttar Pradesh’s Lakhimpur Kheri district, according to reports. She left home on Monday to visit a neighbouring town to fill up a scholarship form. However, when she did not return the family informed the police. “I really don’t know what to say or whom to suspect.

She left around 8.30 am on Monday. We do not suspect anyone,” said her uncle according to NDTV. This is the second such incident from the same district, where recently a girl was raped and she was thrown in the fields outside the village. https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/13-year-old-raped-lakhimpur-kheri-up/ (August 2020)

Following poem sums up anger being expressed both in India and abroad: Ms. Valmiki’s Rape Case

By Zile Singh 

The  Nirbhaya case, eight years ago, was dastardly.

The whole Nation on roads was broken completely.

The bastards gang-raped Valmiki in the daylight vulturely.

Police in the darkness of midnight cremated her shamelessly.

Relatives were deprived of bidding her a farewell.

Is it  good governance or unbridled authority’s spell?

In between also girls  have been  raped incessantly.

Like Dalits, law and order seems broken permanently.