87-Year-Old Woman Gets Raped. A 48-Year-Old Woman Murdered Over WhatsApp Status. How Are Women Supposed To Feel Safe In India?

87-Year-Old Woman Gets Raped. A 48-Year-Old Woman Murdered Over WhatsApp Status. How Are Women Supposed To Feel Safe In India?

As a woman, I personally do not feel safe in our country as the crimes against women continue to rise. Every day we wake up to news about multiple crimes against women across the country and not one day goes by when I don’t think about women’s safety and law and order in our country. One would think, things would’ve gotten better over the last few years but sadly that is not the case. And let me present two cases as evidence. In the first case, an 87-year-old woman was allegedly raped and assaulted by an unidentified person inside her own house on Sunday. In the second case, a 48-year-old woman died after she suffered grievous internal injuries in a fight that took place in her own neighbourhood over a Whatsapp status. Exactly! Women are being murdered, raped and shamed over petty reasons and that has me feeling concerned for the safety of my gender.

The first incident took place in Delhi. The woman who is bedridden was alone at home when an unidentified person broke in and attacked her. The woman’s daughter had gone out to meet a friend when the incident took place. The accused broke in around 12.30 pm on Sunday and locked the house from inside when the elderly woman questioned the man, he claimed to be from a gas agency but the woman got suspicious and yelled for help but the man assaulted and raped her, stole her phone and fled before help could arrive. It was only after the victim’s daughter came home an hour later that she found her injured mother and called the police. The family of the victim has levelled allegations against the police for delayed action. On the other hand, the police claimed that the family only reported the theft and nothing else. According to the news report by Indian Express, a relative of the victim told the media that the Police told the victim and her daughter (65-years-old), to not pursue the case as it would be ‘stressful’ for them considering their age. The relative further added that the woman is unsafe in her own home. Clearly, that is the case. A heinous crime like rape against an elderly bed-ridden woman is extremely shameful. And not being able to serve justice in the case would be even worse. But the question is – what has this society turned into? What kind of monsters are out on a prowl out there?

The second incident took place in Boisar in Maharastra’s Palghar district. A 48-year-old woman suffered injuries in a fight that took place between her and another family earlier last week over a Whatsapp status shared by her 20-year-old daughter. What is even going on in this world? How are people being killed over petty issues like Whatsapp statuses and social media? In the case in question, three people including two women have been arrested and remanded in police custody for culpable homicide. The incident occurred in a chawl in Boisar’s Shivaji Nagar. The daughter of the deceased had shared a Whatsapp status that was disliked by her 17-year-old friend who lives in the same area. The friend along with her mother, sister and brother went to the victim’s house to confront the 20-year-old woman when the heated argument intensified and escalated into a brawl which led to a 48-year-old woman suffering internal injuries to her ribs. She was later rushed to the government hospital where she died during treatment.

According to a news report by Indian Express, the woman has another medical problem but the death occurred due to the injuries she sustained during the fight. An FIR has been filed under section 304 of the IPC for culpable homicide not amounting to murder against the minor girl, her mother, brother and sister. The mother, brother and sister have been arrested and produced before the magistrate court. The minor girl has been sent to a correction home. The police refused to reveal any information about the Whatsapp status that led to the brawl but revealed that it was nothing specific and there was no need for the teenager to take it personally. “I cannot disclose the Whatsapp status but there was no need for the minor to take it personally,” said inspector Suresh Kadam of the Boisar police station.

Also Read: Delhi Woman Gang Raped, Beaten, Thrown Off Building In Rajasthan, Two Arrested. Makes Our Skin Crawl!

I am shocked that people can go as far as injuring someone over a Whatsapp status. These acts of crimes against women are extremely shameful and shocking at the same time. How can we expect women to feel safe inside their own homes when crimes like this are taking place across the country?

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Janvi Manchanda

​​She uses her pen to slice through patriarchy. She could be Geet one day, Wednesday Addams next. Writing is the bane of her existence and the object of all her desires!

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