Letter from the Editor-in-Chief

January 2013

A female medical student was gang raped in a bus on the 16th of December, 2012 in which six people were involved. The incident took place in Delhi. The girl lost her life and awoken India with her death.

The word “Rape” itself is very disturbing and Delhi has become a rape capital of the country. If you look at the figures in 2011, there is an estimation of over 24,000 rape cases in the country. This is the figure for the reported cases, but we all know that a large number of such crimes go on unreported. There is nothing to deny the fact that rape in other parts of the country is equally rampant and a cause of worry for every right thinking citizen of the country.

Coincidently the month of December was not too good a month for the women of our country. In Meghalaya we had a rape case at William Nagar wherein 16 persons gang raped an 18 year old girl who was returning home after attending the Simsang festival and the Government was kind enough to pay a compensation of   ‘ 25,000 which the government considered as a step in the right direction. What a shame!

In contrast the alleged molestation of a Manipuri actress in Chandal District of Manipur on the 18th of December by an NSCN (IM) activist Mr. Livingstone Anal sparked an unparallel protest. The sad part of the episode was that a TV journalist Thangjam Nano Singh, a 29 year old reporter of Prime Time, who was there to capture the protest, lost his life due to firing of the police. The government has confirmed that the police have fired without orders.

The issue before the nation is whether we are sensitive to the crime against women? Had this not been the case, over 40,000 rape cases The fact is that, we as a nation have failed to take issues of grave public considerations, seriously. Atrocities against women are going on in this country in different forms, different regions in the name of customs, tradition and religion. The recent protest in Delhi was the result of the outburst of the anger of the people.

It is true that rape is not only a law and order problem, but also a social problem which needs to be taken care socially. Discrimination against gender is a reality and a cause of worry as it has led to the killing of girl child in the womb of the mother. Thanks to girl infanticide and abortion the number of girls are very few compared to boys as in the case of Haryana, where there are just 877 women to every 1000 men. There are endless such reasons and cases which reflects the discrimination against women. The society must wake up and be sensitive on the issue.

There is a hue and cry for a death penalty towards a rapist, particularly in this case which is a rare of the rarest. Then again, death penalty to a rapist will only encourage him to kill the girl after the heinous act in order to avoid any evidence of the crime. If this is implemented, it will again go against the interest of women. There is a need for a greater debate on this issue.

Though the police arrested all the culprits and assured day to day hearing of the case w.e.f. 3rd January, 2013. This particular case may get justice within a reasonable time frame work, precisely due to public pressure.

What is really needed is to develop a mechanism where in justice is delivered without delay.

Our cover story this month titled “Poor law, unsafe women” examines and reports the unpleasant event that has taken place in the capital and other parts of north eastern region.

This issue is a New Year special issue, yet we are greatly disappointed in our desk to report so many unpleasant stories all sad and painful.

We wish our readers a great year 2013 ahead. At least the three states of North Eastern Region viz Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland will see the new Governments. We will watch how the new government performs and delivers.

Dr. K. K. Jhunjhunwala