In Surat, Policeman Strips, Rapes And Blackmails Woman For Not Wearing A Mask

If there is one thing that I can say with absolute certainty is that women have never felt safe in society, and this isn’t just now or for a while, I am making a sweeping statement. And we turn to police for safety. But from being groped in public transport to being raped by authority figures in family, every woman – at least once – has one harrowing sexual harassment incident they can recall. One would assume that a global pandemic would, if nothing else, would put a temporary stop to the abuse against women. But that would mean asking for a lot, wouldn’t it? It is during these moments that one turns to the protectors of law and order for help. But what happens when they are also contributing to the abuse?

Recently, a police constable in Surat abducted a 33-year-old married woman, raped her by blackmailing her with legal action after he caught her without a mask. The woman also claimed that Naresh Kapadiya, the accused cop, repeatedly raped her several times over the next few months.

The victim claims that during the 2020 lockdown, she had gone to Palsana to get some milk when Kapadiya allegedly kidnapped her and threatened her with police action for not wearing a mask. Instead of then taking her to the police station, he took her to Navsari Road, where he supposedly stripped and thrashed her. He then took inappropriate pictures of her using them to blackmail her and continue raping her.

While this is the side of the survivor, the accused’s wife had something different to say. The wife of Naresh Kapadiya claimed that the survivor and her husband had come to their house and spat casteist slurs at them. After which Kapadiya filed a police complaint against them and both – the survivor and the husband – were booked under The Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. 

The initial investigation showed that Naresh Kapadiya was transferred from Palsana police station to Umarpada police station after a video of him fighting with the survivor went viral in January An officer investigating the case said, “It seems the accused cop and the survivor had an affair with each other. Following disputes, they lodged complaints.”

Affairs are a tricky business. Disputes within them even more so. However, seeking to use rape as a revenge tool and using power to blackmail a survivor is unacceptable, especially if you are in the police. You’re the protector of law.