Protect Women, PUNISH the Rapists

Brothers and Sisters of Pune, The Pune-Pimpri-chinchwad area has become an ultra-modern centre for education, business and specially I.T. While wearing this new gown of sophistication, the once peaceful and cultured Pune city and outlying areas have become host to a new set of problems. The recent rape of a married woman in the Hinjewadi area is not the first such incident, but just one in a series of such cases. The main accused in this gang-rape incident is Subhash Bhosle. He is a well-known criminal in that area. There are ten criminal cases filed against him. His extradition by the court was annulled by the State Home Ministry itself. Probably that is the reason that he does not feel afraid of the Pune Police while committing his crimes. In the current incident, the perpetrators were immediately arrested mainly because of the indomitable courage, the brave face and the irrevocable details that the woman was able to put forth. The support and backing that her husband and other family members have extended to her is also appreciable. The Govt. seems to be condoning rich scoundrels and political criminals. It is protecting such extradited goons by revoking the cases against them. We strongly protest against all such actions. And demand that those who take such actions be looked on as co-accused in these cases. Day-by-day, criminalization of politics is growing. To top it all, known criminals seem to be entering politics as representatives of the public. Their ability to buy out the police, the government and the law-enforcers is wellknown. As a result of this the public, particularly women are feeling increasingly insecure. One reason for such incidents to be so frequent is the lack of enough public transport from the fast-increasing Hinjewadi industrial area to Pune city. The latest incident is one in a series of such incidents. This situation again brings to the forefront the problem of the inadequate public transport of Pune.

It is an intense demand of all Puneites that the cultured and industrialized Pune be also a safe city for all to travel. For this to happen, the Police, the Govt. and the law-enforcement agencies need to share this responsibility. The government should take help of various social, womens, youth and peoples organizations working for citizens rights. We feel that for Pune to be a Safe Pune, we need to increase the self-confidence of women and train them for self-security. We DEMAND that the accused criminals be severely punished . We also plan to see that the Police and the Law discharge their duties correctly in such incidents. We invite all citizens of Pune to join is in this fight for the justice and equality to women in the society. We make the following demands: 1. Names of the peoples representatives who sheltered the accused by cancelling his extradition should be announced publicly, and they should be punished. 2. A meeting be arranged between the public transport officials, the self-run agencies, the police and the law-enforcers, so that a strong and sufficient public transport system be established. 3. Regular meetings be taken at the police commissioner level to discuss the social crimes being committed against women. 4. Police must record the complaints by women. 5. The political intervention in the work of police should be stopped.

Abhivyakti
Womens front of Lokayat Contacts: Alka Abhijit 9422319129 9422308125 Trupti 9422308125 Sulochana 9823850481

Contact Address: Lokayat, Lenovo Buliding, Opposite Syndicate Bank, Law College Road, Nal Stop, Pune. Time: Every Sunday 4 to 7 pm. E-mail: alkaj25@gmail.com
This pamphlet was published by Alka Joshi for Lokayat on 13th April 2010