God's Own Country, Kerala, has many devils in human form. Girls and women are mere flesh for trade and enjoyment for these criminals without conscience. They include the mighty and the powerful in the land of Mahabali, the legendary emperor, who is supposed to visit during Onam every year to see his people in peace and happiness.
1996 January was an year of disaster for a family in Suryanelli , a plantation village near Munnar. Their 16- year old younger daughter was lured by a bus- conductor. He then traded the girl. She was raped by 42 men in 40 days by shifting her from place to place . Her rapists included men in politics and power. It was an unexpected tragedy of an unimaginable proportion. A special court convicted 36 accused in 2000. But in 2005 the High Court acquitted all except one. Even in his case the punishment was reduced to 5 years and a fine of Rs. 50,000. One person, who is now holding a high position in India, got " clean certificate" from the Supreme Court; but the accusation has resurfaced again. The investigation was sloppy and the successive governments showed no interest. She got a job in the Commercial Taxes Department as compensation from the government. A false case was foisted against her by two officers , she was denied bail for six days and was out of job for nine months. Only after the exposure of her plight by the media and women activist groups, she was reinstated. After 16 years in January 2013 the Supreme Court stayed the 2005 order to the High Court and ordered retrial to be completed in six months.
The father of the rape victim said:" The past 17 years were like hell. We were ostracised by our dear and near ones. Our two girls withdrew from the outside world and confine themselves to the house. They have not attended a single family function all these years. They don' t even go to the church.
Will the girl and her family get justice? Will the Kerala government and police take genuine interest in rendering justice and bringing the guilty to arm of law? Will the court rise to the expectation of the Indian people to whom the judiciary is the ONLY HOPE ? Will the victim and her family get adequate protection?
THERE ARE MANY SURYANELLI s IN INDIA. WILL THE NIGHTMARE OF OUR WOMEN C OME TO AN END?
1996 January was an year of disaster for a family in Suryanelli , a plantation village near Munnar. Their 16- year old younger daughter was lured by a bus- conductor. He then traded the girl. She was raped by 42 men in 40 days by shifting her from place to place . Her rapists included men in politics and power. It was an unexpected tragedy of an unimaginable proportion. A special court convicted 36 accused in 2000. But in 2005 the High Court acquitted all except one. Even in his case the punishment was reduced to 5 years and a fine of Rs. 50,000. One person, who is now holding a high position in India, got " clean certificate" from the Supreme Court; but the accusation has resurfaced again. The investigation was sloppy and the successive governments showed no interest. She got a job in the Commercial Taxes Department as compensation from the government. A false case was foisted against her by two officers , she was denied bail for six days and was out of job for nine months. Only after the exposure of her plight by the media and women activist groups, she was reinstated. After 16 years in January 2013 the Supreme Court stayed the 2005 order to the High Court and ordered retrial to be completed in six months.
The father of the rape victim said:" The past 17 years were like hell. We were ostracised by our dear and near ones. Our two girls withdrew from the outside world and confine themselves to the house. They have not attended a single family function all these years. They don' t even go to the church.
Will the girl and her family get justice? Will the Kerala government and police take genuine interest in rendering justice and bringing the guilty to arm of law? Will the court rise to the expectation of the Indian people to whom the judiciary is the ONLY HOPE ? Will the victim and her family get adequate protection?
THERE ARE MANY SURYANELLI s IN INDIA. WILL THE NIGHTMARE OF OUR WOMEN C OME TO AN END?
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