India is going to celebrate one more republic day. State’s might will be displayed on Rajpath, the road leading to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The question is, does the state apply enough power on the ground to protect the interests of citizen? Vandalism by anti-social elements on the streets during release of movie Patmavat is not giving any assurance of protection as such. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Khap panchayats still run freely in many northern states; couples who loved girl/ boy from another caste is running for life in Tamilnadu. The list is long.
Same goes with state's power to prosecute as well. Court cases are moving slower than snail.
Two cases in point are Vakapalli gang rape case where "Eleven tribal women from Vakapalli in Nurmati panchayat of G Madugula mandal in Vizag Agency were allegedly gangraped by 21 anti-Naxal force Greyhounds personnel on August 20, 2007". In this case, "Judge of 11th Additional District Sessions Judge-cum-special Court under the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in Visakhapatnam has adjourned the first hearing of the Vakapalli gangrape case to January 25". Reason for adjournment is, court didn't hear any communication from official’s side regarding the appointment of P Trinadh Rao as a special public prosecutor (as per victim’s wishes). Imagine, this alleged incident happened in 2007; and the first hearing is postponed to Jan 25, 2018. If this is justice, then I would say, we failed to protect the marginalized.
Second case in point is from Odisha. "Class-IX student of Sorispadar Government School at Odisha’s Maoist-dominated Koraput district – who alleged she was gang-raped by four armed security personnel on October 10, 2017 – hanged herself to death at her house in Musaguda village on Monday evening".
In both cases accused were sworn to protect the citizens. Nothing proved in the court yet, you may say. Well, I agree, but state is failing frequently to bring cases to court on time and do good in prosecution. This is not something which we can be proud of during this republic day.
Sajeev.
References
1. Trial court adjourns first Vakapalli gangrape hearing to January 25 - New Indian Express
2. Odisha Girl Who Alleged Gang-rape by 'Men in Uniform' Commits Suicide, Sparks Outrage - News18
3. Padmaavat: From set vandalism to Karni Sena protest and Supreme Court ruling, a timeline of controversies - FirstPost
4. Noida: Police book 200 for vandalism on DND Flyway, more arrests soon - HT
The question is, does the state apply enough power on the ground to protect the interests of citizen? Vandalism by anti-social elements on the streets during release of movie Patmavat is not giving any assurance of protection as such. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident. Khap panchayats still run freely in many northern states; couples who loved girl/ boy from another caste is running for life in Tamilnadu. The list is long.
Same goes with state's power to prosecute as well. Court cases are moving slower than snail.
Two cases in point are Vakapalli gang rape case where "Eleven tribal women from Vakapalli in Nurmati panchayat of G Madugula mandal in Vizag Agency were allegedly gangraped by 21 anti-Naxal force Greyhounds personnel on August 20, 2007". In this case, "Judge of 11th Additional District Sessions Judge-cum-special Court under the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in Visakhapatnam has adjourned the first hearing of the Vakapalli gangrape case to January 25". Reason for adjournment is, court didn't hear any communication from official’s side regarding the appointment of P Trinadh Rao as a special public prosecutor (as per victim’s wishes). Imagine, this alleged incident happened in 2007; and the first hearing is postponed to Jan 25, 2018. If this is justice, then I would say, we failed to protect the marginalized.
Second case in point is from Odisha. "Class-IX student of Sorispadar Government School at Odisha’s Maoist-dominated Koraput district – who alleged she was gang-raped by four armed security personnel on October 10, 2017 – hanged herself to death at her house in Musaguda village on Monday evening".
In both cases accused were sworn to protect the citizens. Nothing proved in the court yet, you may say. Well, I agree, but state is failing frequently to bring cases to court on time and do good in prosecution. This is not something which we can be proud of during this republic day.
Sajeev.
References
1. Trial court adjourns first Vakapalli gangrape hearing to January 25 - New Indian Express
2. Odisha Girl Who Alleged Gang-rape by 'Men in Uniform' Commits Suicide, Sparks Outrage - News18
3. Padmaavat: From set vandalism to Karni Sena protest and Supreme Court ruling, a timeline of controversies - FirstPost
4. Noida: Police book 200 for vandalism on DND Flyway, more arrests soon - HT
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