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Cancel bail to accused
MANY WOMAN organisations jostled with the police and sought to meet the Chief Minister to press for cancellation of bail granted to Ashiana rape accused at secretariat here on Thursday.
MANY WOMAN organisations jostled with the police and sought to meet the Chief Minister to press for cancellation of bail granted to Ashiana rape accused at secretariat here on Thursday.
But, they were arrested and later released at the police lines. The protestors shouted anti-government slogans and demanded that the case be transferred to the fast track court for immediate justice.
They alleged that the accused were moving free whereas the victim was languishing in a protection home. “Is it justice?” they argued and called upon people to come forward and register protest against such cases.
The victim’s mother, brother and uncle were also a part of the protest march.
Earlier, Sajhi Duniya, AIDWA, IPTA, Maswa, Mahila Federation, AALI and AIPWA members and leaders gathered in hundreds at Gandhi Statue and marched towards Secretariat. When the procession reached Vidhan Sabha, the police tried to stop them from moving further. However, approximately 250 supporters, managed to march till the Secretariat but they faced a strong resistance from the police.
When they reached Secretariat building, they engaged in heavy slogan shouting and demanded to meet the Chief Minister or some senior Home department official. However, the demands were turned down which upset the women and they raised more slogans.
Several protestors, including Roop Rekha Verma and Madhu Garg, were packed off in a bus to Reserve Police Lines and were kept there for about two-and-half hours. Later, they were allowed to go.
The procession and dharna, led primarily by Prof Rooprekha Verma and Madhu Garg, had put forward certain demands and a memorandum demanding justice for the Ashiana rape victim and conviction of the guilty.
Madhu Garg from AIDWA said, “We will do all we can to get justice and a happy life for the victim. We want speedy justice, that’s it.”
The victim’s mother, brother and uncle who were present for the march and the dharna also raised slogans for speedy justice and wanted the victim to be free from all this so that she could begin living life normally with them at home instead of languishing in protection home.
Vandana Roy, Secretary AIDWA said, “We only wanted the Chief Minister to listen to our pleas and demands. We wanted that if the CM is not present then somebody from the home ministry should come and listen to us. However, nobody came out to listen to us.”
A prominent citizen of the city and a supporter of the procession and dharna said, “I think it is important that we raise a voice against such crimes and cruelty against women. We should be sensitive towards women at least in this day and age.”
