Delhi: College students protest Dalit minor’s rape, murder in Bihar

Source:- indiatoday.intoday.in

Students from the Jawaharlal Nehru Universty, Delhi University and Jamia Millia Islamia held a protest at Bihar Bhavan in New Delhi’s Chanakyapuri area against the brutal rape and murder of a 16-year-old Dalit student in Hajipur, Bihar. The ‘Justice for Dika’ protests were held under the banner of All India Students Association and All India Progressive Women’s Association.

The protestors were joined by AIPWA National Secretary and CPI (ML) Polit Bureau member Kavita Krishnan. The rape and murder of the victim took place on the night of January 7 in Hajipur’s Ambedkar Hostel where she was staying. The Bihar police registered an FIR but have not applied charges of sexual violence or invoked the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, even though the victim was a minor.PROTESTERS DEMAND CHARGES UNDER POSCO ACT

The protestors demanded that the main suspect, Mithilesh Singh, be immediately arrested and that a high-level enquiry be instituted to investigate why no heed was paid to earlier complaints of sexual harassments.

Speaking at the protest demonstration, Kavita Krishnan said, “It has been more than two weeks but the Bihar police is refusing to put charges of sexual violence and POCSO in the FIR.” Krishnan also said the local SP has admitted to the press that a sharp object was inserted into the victim. This, Krishnan alleged, indicates that she was raped and then murdered.

‘MAIN ACCUSED IS PRINCIPAL OF SCHOOL’Krishnan went on to say, “Also we must know that the main accused in the case, Mithilesh Singh, the principal of the residential school has not been arrested. It is shocking that the government of Bihar which claims itself to be a government of social justice has not taken any step whatsoever to arrest the accused.” The APIWA national secretary went on to question if the local police or the state were protecting someone.

‘BECOMING A PATTERN IN BIHAR’

AISA National President Sucheta De also spoke during today’s demonstration, saying that while the victim’s mother and her classmates are on the streets demanding justice, their voices are not being heard in Bihar. “This is not the first time that Dalits are being attacked in Bihar’s Dalit hostels. Just few months ago in Muzaffarpur a Dalit student was attacked…this is becoming a pattern in Bihar and we have come to tell (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar that this pattern has to end and he has to ensure that justice is done”.