The rape of a 14-year old Manipuri girl in Munirka on Friday, once again, triggered anger in the Capital. Being the third such incident within a week where North-Easterners have been the victims, hundreds of agitated North-Eastern students, including members of JNU students’ union gathered outside Vasant Vihar police station on Saturday.
The incident, which comes close on the heels of the death of an Arunachal Pradesh youth Nido Tania, sparked off protests outside the police station. While several students were engaged in frequent scuffle with police, others blocked Nelson Mandela Marg leading to tony shopping malls for the entire afternoon, causing traffic gridlock on Outer Ring Road. The demonstrators raised anti-police slogans and also tried to barge into the police station.
While all the protesters demanded strict action against the accused, there were several who questioned police role in ensuring women’s safety since the barbaric December 16, 2012 gang-rape. “Nothing has changed after Nirbhaya’s death. Rapes continue to happen and there is no fear in the minds of men committing such crimes. The police, the Government, everything seems a farce now,” said Ningthojam, a political science student in JNU.
“We have been asking for a copy of the FIR from police but they have not given it to us yet. We demand strict action against the culprit,” said lenin, president of JNU Students’ Union. The agitators also blamed Delhi Police for inadequate security for the people from the North-East. later in the day, Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson Barkha Singh reached the spot and spoke to protesters. She also held a meeting with senior police officials in this regard.
“We are looking into the case and we will go to any extent to make sure that the perpetrators in this case are hanged. It is very shameful and unfortunate that she was raped in the same area where she lived by her landlord’s son,” said Singh.