Page 23 - Tehelka Issue 8&9

Increasing cases of child mum child marriage cases. Both the prime factors, besides, high rate of abuse incidents today are finally

villages come under Chhaygaon
coming to light and getting the at-
illiteracy and poverty.
Another factor which cannot
police station in Rani.
tention of the civil society. If we look
marriage and abuse riage and sexual abuse cases are be overlooked is the regular inter- at the present-day reports from Jan-
Other villages with child mar-
uary to April 2018, there are at least
vention by its Sangathans (organi-
Toparpothar, Choudhurypam,
sations) like Rabha Sangh or San-
50 incidents of either rape or sex-
ual abuse involving minor victims
gathan’s leaders when it comes to
Hatipara, Borakhat, Majortop, Bhi-
warrant action in Assam torduwar, Bhalukabari, Aaguni, such matters. Most often the Sanghs alone, considering every region
or its group leaders intervene in
Jarsimalu, Champupara,etc. (under
of the country. Even the cases of
the operations of the Childline and
assaults on eight-month-old tod-
Chhaygaon P.S.) and Kapurpura, Lo-
hatghat, Sontala, Rajapora, Kahuwa, NGOs so that their villages or com- dlers are on the rise, not to forget
Kulshi, Jupangbari, Majkuchi and munities are not seen in bad light. they are the soft and easiest targets
While the country continues to be on the boil, pained and enraged by the harrowing rape Shantipur (under Palashbari P.S.). Most Rabha Sanghs are also known for the assaulters.
“The reported rapes and abuses
for awarding justice, punishment
incidents in Kathau, Unnao, Nagaon or Surat, unabated cases of violating minors are emerging Child marriage & sexual abuse and making decisions on behalf of will never reflect the actual number
from Assam’s Kamrup district, reflecting a growing anarchy, reports pari saikia Factors pertaining to deprived affected families according to their of incidents of actual assault and
abuse because most of the incidents
go unreported,” said Prerna Chang-
ouple of days after the against him. Instead, the accused Young girls kakati, Director, Assam Centre for
beginning of Assamese was allowed to go with just a warn- between 8 to 16 Rural Development (ACRD).
New Year, a sub-centre ing by the Rabha Sangh, a village
of Childline in Boko, union of the Rabha tribe, and her years of age are Repetitive attacks
C Kamrup district, As - family who thought this will bring “The implementation of the law is
sam, received information about shame to their village. Lack of action the prime targets weak. The offenders are let off on
an elopement case of a minor. A against the accused instilled more of sexual abuse bail, without proper evidence. The
45-year-old man, already married confidence in him to harass the mi- evidence is not collected, charge
and a father of two, ran away with nor for another one and a half years, and rape in Boko’s sheets are not filed on time. The en-
a 14-year-old Class IX girl student sans fear. villages of Assam, tire process and the response of the
studying in in her village school. The “The rural Kamrup area in Boko system to these crimes are sluggish
man had assured the girl that they registered five incidents of sexual and the accused and mishandled. Unless the laws
will be wedded soon and coaxed abuse or rape against the minors are from 16 and change, which hopefully the new
her to engage in sexual relationship in April 2018. From April 2017 till Ordinance on the death penalty that
with him. The man’s wife got infu- March 2018, 10 cases have already 58 years old sets a mandatory time frame of two
riated. Unable to take any action been reported. Villages in Boko months for the police investigation
against him, she thrashed the girl with reports of child sexual abuse and such cases are fast-tracked and
mercilessly that left one of her eyes this year are — Nagarbera (3), Kala- terms and conditions. It cannot be disposed, these crimes will continue
damaged. hikash (2), Selosuti (2), Berabhanga denied that there are similar Sanghs to happen,” Prerna added.
At the time of rescue, the girl’s (1), Sakhati (1), Tupamari (2),” Muk- in certain villages who are now Srinagar-based advocate Sub-
hands and body had bruises and steshwar Rahman, member, Child- coming out with tough rules to stop reen Malik said, “Patriarchy, igno-
blood clots due to bite marks, al- line Boko told Tehelka. child marriage and sexual abuse. rance, weak laws, weaker imple-
legedly left by the man’s wife. The “If we dig out the unreported Thirdly, almost nil conviction mentation, a social attitude of not
Childline and Child Welfare Com- incidents of sexual abuse and rape rate encourages the perpetrators prioritising these areas of life along
mittee (CWC) Boko issued directions against the minors, the number will photo: tehelka archives to return to ground zero. As men- with an understanding of a society
that she be given proper medical be outrageous. For example, there tioned earlier, decisions are mostly to be silent about these issues. There
care and ordered to file an FIR and were three cases in March that were starting from the age of 11 years in socio-economic situations ap - taken by Sanghs and are not favour- is silence, stigma, shame and denial
initiation of an investigation against not reported due to social stigma.” the case of girls and 14 to 45 years in pear to be mainly responsible able to victims, accused are easily about any form of sexual abuse and
the accused under Protection of Mukteswar said that 8 to 16 years the case of male. “A total of 56 child for regular sexual abuse and released with warnings or beating other abuse of personal nature in-
Children against Sexual Offences of girls are the prime targets of marriage took place from April 2017 child marriage cases in South and thrashing, without any police volving family name and honours.”
(POCSO) Act. sexual abuse and rape in Boko’s vil- till March 2018 in Rani. And, Child- Kamrup’s Boko and Rani areas. involvement. “The state of Jammu and Kashmir
In another case, a 13-year-old lages, and the accused are from 16 to line, Rani, rescued 85 cases in 2017- Ignorance in the communities has no POSCO Act giving the possi-
girl who went through sexual abuse 58 years of age. 18,” said Mustafa Ali, member, Child- about laws and punishment against Abuse against minors bility to the rise of sexual abuses on
for two years was found to be six Similarly, in the Rani area in ru- line, Rani. any sexual offences, reluctance to There appears to be no end to the the minors. For eg: in Pattan, a man
months pregnant. The 58-year-old ral Kamrup district, child marriage The village Goroimari has maxi- initiate police complaint, non-filing outrageous number of sexual abuse who raped a boy was not booked
accused had raped her first in 2016, are significantly high with maxi- mum reports of child sexual abuse of FIR by the parents due to societal or rape cases involving children under child rape but under 377,
but, no police complaint was filed mum eloping cases taking place and the village Kanhara with maxi- pressure and social stigma are the in India. Unlike the past, the child unnatural sex offence,” Malik added.

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22-24 Special Report (Women).indd 2-3 02/05/18 5:32 PM