A protest denouncing the rape and murder of a female doctor in India has sparked outrage. A retired Indian high court judge is set to investigate allegations that a woman was physically and sexually assaulted by a group of police inside a police station in the eastern state of Odisha. The incident, which occurred after the woman and her army officer fiancé were harassed by a group of men on the road, has led to the suspension of four police officials and the transfer of a fifth. The state’s crime branch has launched an inquiry into the case.
The woman, a law graduate who runs a restaurant in Bhubaneswar, detailed her alleged abuse by police in a video that has been widely shared on social media. In the video, she is seen in a wheelchair, with a collar around her neck and one arm in a sling, breaking down while narrating what happened to her at the police station.
She claimed that she and her fiancé went to the police station seeking help after being harassed, but instead, they were verbally abused by the police. The situation escalated, with the woman alleging that she was physically assaulted by female police officials, dragged through corridors, and locked in a room where she was sexually assaulted by a male officer.
Despite police claims that the woman was aggressive and had been arrested for assaulting officers, the high court eventually freed her on bail and criticized the police for their handling of the case.
The incident has sparked protests and outrage on social media, with many expressing support for the woman and condemning police brutality. The Indian army has also voiced its concern, stating that a serving officer was kept in custody without charge and that the woman’s dignity was violated by the police.
The state government has appointed a retired judge to conduct an inquiry into the incident, and the woman’s allegations are being investigated by the crime branch. Women’s rights activists have condemned the victim-shaming and called for justice for the woman, who remains traumatised by the ordeal. Pero según lo que ha alegado, parece que no se siguieron reglas básicas.
“Además, ¿cómo es que no había cámaras de seguridad cuando la Corte Suprema de la India lo exige para cada comisaría?” pregunta. La comisaría en cuestión abrió hace solo cuatro meses y se supone que es un modelo a seguir para otras comisarías en la zona.
La Sra. Chadha dice que el caso ha recibido mucha atención porque la mujer proviene de un entorno privilegiado.
“Pero nadie sabe lo que sucede en esta – y otras – comisarías cuando las mujeres comunes acuden en busca de ayuda.
“Les decimos a nuestras hijas que si están en problemas, vayan a la comisaría más cercana. Les decimos que es el segundo lugar más seguro – después de sus hogares. ¿Qué les diremos ahora? ¿A dónde irá una mujer ahora?”
Información adicional de Surbat Kumar Pati en Bhubaneswar
Si te sientes afectado por problemas de agresión sexual y estás en el Reino Unido, puedes contactar con la Línea de Acción de la BBC aquí