The atrocities and sexual assault incident in Bharatpur police station in Odisha’s capital Bhubaneshwar has stunned the whole nation. It is certainly horrifying that in the night of September 15 a working Indian military officer was returning at midnight along with his fiancée. They were harassed by a group of bad characters, some of whom claim to be engineering students. They somehow saved themselves and reached Bharatpur police station after midnight. The lady police officer refused to register their complaint after some altercation. They tortured the lady, who is a lawyer and daughter of a Retd. Brigadier of Indian army. Afterwards they arrested the army officer and he was thrown into a room. They dragged the lady and her hands and legs were tied and she was also thrown into another room. She was beaten so badly that she was crying and yelling continuously.
The next horrible scene brings us face to face at dawn with the arrival of three high officials including Dinakrishna Mishra, the Inspector In-charge of Bharatpur police station. The situation was so horrible that the lady’s father, the Retd. Brigadier had to call a press conference and present the whole saga before one and all. It was a terrible situation for a traumatized and humiliated father.
There are certain aspects, very dirty indeed, which we cannot write here. They are so shameful and unprintable. The lady alleges that one male officer disrobed her and abused her in the most horrible and shameless way. The officer tore her bra and undergarments and she was tortured and abused by that devilish police officer. The lady had to face more humiliation the sordid details of which she presented before the press.
September 15 was a sad day for the whole country. Every right-thinking Indian has to bow down his head in shame. This event shows that our youth are becoming more irresponsible to the extent of becoming worse than animals. The most worrying thing is that inside the khaki dress there are many worst lawbreakers, sex maniacs and criminals. It is a tragedy that such criminals are responsible for maintaining law and order.
A few days back another horrendous incident happened in Ujjain at midnight. Two army officers were caught and tortured and at least one accompanying boy was gangraped. Though such shameful incidents are happening everywhere yet particularly they are taking place where double-engine sarkar is ruling. This shows how empty is the slogan, ‘bahuthuanari ka apman, abki bar… sarkar’. If morality is lost, everything is lost. Even progress and development is meaningless if there is no morality.
A woman’s honour, respect and dignity has greater importance than even her life. Thus, the situation requires sincere heart-searching and introspection by one and all. It shows that more people are becoming worse than vultures, dogs and wolves.
The need of the hour is re-learning the lessons of humanity, humane behaviour and fundamentals of morality. If we cannot show even the basic and essential respect to our fellow beings and especially to our women, how can we be expected to follow other moral principles?
Respect to human beings is one of the fundamental principles of being human. This should be above the classifications of caste, religion or political affiliations.
Every Indian, every partyand especially those who are responsible for maintaining public order, rule of law and judiciary have a special responsibility to protect and uphold the respect and dignity of every citizen.