Women activists are horrified at the brutal gangrape of the 23-year-old para-medical student in a white line bus in New Delhi on Sunday night.
Prof. Lata Singh, a historian teaching at Maitree College, warns against the increasing masculinsation of all public spaces in the country. “It’s barbaric. We are moving towards greater brutalisation, especially since only a decade ago parents would tell their daughters to use public transport at night since it was considered safer,” said Prof. Singh.
Brinda Karat, CPI(M) member politburo said, “It is the most horrendous thing that could happen in the capital city. What is most alarming is that there was no help available. The police are supposed to provide mobile security to women but in this case, not only was she raped in a bus but she and her friend were both thrown out of the bus.”
Activist Sujata Madhok believes that greater focus needs to be given to women-related crimes. “We need fast-track punishment to deal with cases of rape. In Rajasthan, when a tourist was raped some time earlier, a fast- track trial ensured the rapist was convicted within a period of one month,” she said. “As far as Delhi is concerned, the key question to be asked is what kind of capital city are we living in if they cannot ensure the safety of citizens,” said Ms Madhok.
NGOs believe there is a deliberate effort being made to push women back into the “four walls of their homes” especially since incidents like this are going to make parents fearful.