Since I was young, I’ve been involved in many movements and this is why I consider myself an activist at heart. I have been engaged in the 1989 student movement that was defending students’ rights in the university. I also attempted to fight against the Ram Mandir Andolan movement in the 1990’s. Further, when Iraq was attacked by America, I…
Numerous women in Gorhpur, UP, protested against the injustice and impunity with which a rape case in Banda, UP, was treated.
Sheelu, a 17-year-old Dalit girl, was allegedly raped by her employer, an influential local politician, and three of his associates. But when the victim attempted to complain, things took a very bad turn for her. Instead of having her case being filed, the girl was arrested under the charge of theft, accused of stealing a mobile phone and cash from her employer’s house.
Numerous local inhabitants and women in particular, were taken aback by the events, and decided to take to the streets and publicly express their support for Sheelu, and condemn the impunity given to certain officials. Ajeet tells us: “Everyone has been shocked here… Women felt that something should be done, that they should unite and march together.”
Thanks to numerous similar mobilizations, Sheelu has eventually been freed, and the culprit has been arrested, under the charge of unlawfully employing a minor and raping her. This clearly is a step in the right direction, but we can only deplore the fact that justice took so long to be done. “I have been really scandalized by what happened. Making a video was a way for me to protest and to support these women in their struggle” said Ajeet.
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