Torture of Sadhvi Pragya should be unacceptable in India

nov 20th, 2008

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From: Chitra

Dear Chairperson of National Commission for Women in India, DR. GIRIJA VYAS and the Honourable President:   Our nation is currently debating the issue of the involvement of so called "Hindu Terrorists" who we are told organised a series of bomb blasts in our country. Among the people accused is a lady,  a sadhvi actually. When I was perusing news items pertaining to her among media outlets that I trust to give me reliable news, I learnt that this lady is being tortured.   A copy of one such report can be read at: http://www.dailypioneer.com/DisplayContent.aspx?ContentID=135277&URLName=%25u2018I-was-beaten-day-and-night-my-chastity-was-questioned-I-wanted-to-commit-suicide%25u2019   It now appears that Sadhvi Pragya was tortured and treated in an inhumane manner. Note carefully the sentences below taken from the report:   "He was then pushed aside by a member of the ATS squad knows as Khanwilkar, who then himself  commenced beating me severely with a belt on my hands, forearms, palms, feet, soles, causing me bruises, swelling and contusions in these areas."   Also part of the confession is the account below:   " I say that from the 13th onwards, I say that I was beaten during the day, night and midnight. On two occasions I was even woken up in the early hours of the morning at 4 am and questioned about my knowledge of the blasts. On these occasions, I was beaten by a senior officer having a  moustache, whom I can identify. In addition I was subject to vulgar abuse and obscene language by members of the ATS team interrogating me. My Guru was abused and my chastity was questioned. I was physically and verbally traumatised to the extent that I wanted to commit suicide."   Having read the report, I wish to take up this issue of torture of a women in police custody. Sadhvi Pragya may be an accused in a police case involving terror. She may even have known people who may be involved in the blasts. But this is no excuse to treat her as a convict, and most definitely not an excuse to torture her. She is innocent until proven guilty.   How is it that the national commision for Women in India sits quiet while this helpless woman gets tortured in police custody? Could you please inform us why it should be okay for a lady like Pragya to be tortured for being a suspect? We want to know why has the commission not reached out to support Pragya's right to human treatment in police custody?   Is this too much to ask?   Your commission was instituted so that womens issues that may otherwise get neglected are given their due attention. And this is one of those instances where you are expected to raise objections against the mistreatment of this woman. The big issue for me here is no longer the terror blasts, but the miserable treatment this helpless woman got in custody. I cannot support any person who tells me it was right for this lady to suffer the way she did for being a suspect. We would like you to take the following action:   1. Publicy condemn the torture Sadhvi Pragya was subject to 2. Demand that she be handed over to the commission until the police can find a prison where she could be treated like a human 3. Initiate action against people who tortured the lady.   By not acting in this case you will be sending a message that it is okay for some women to get tortured. And Very soon people will stop taking you seriously. You will then prove yourself to be irrevelant to womens issues in India.   I am sending a copy of this letter to the president of India as well, and also to many media outlets so that it will be known that this matter was indeed brought to the attention of the commission.   Personally, I am highly irritated that this woman who is now a public figure can be treated this badly and government does nothing about it. This is a shame on the Government of India. It is not fair. And it is not how women are to be treated in India.   Jai Hind, Chitra

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