ID Number: 47484
Maker: Act Now for Harmony And Democracy (ANHAD); The National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights; Nidhip Graphics
Technique: offset
Date Made: Circa 2000
Place Made: India
Measurements: 55.7 cm x 43.3 cm; 21 15/16 in x 17 1/16 in
Main Subject: Police Brutality; Women
Materials: glossy paper (fiber product)
Digitized: Y

Full Text:
Hidden Apartheid Dalit Women On February 2000 at around 11:30 a.m. Surya was on her way to school and was walking past the home of Balakrishnapillai (Pillai caste Hindu), a 70-year-old retired military servant, when she was called over by him. he took her into a bedroom and forced her to lie on the bed, he raped her. Surya recovered consciousness at about 4:00 p.m. that day and fled from the house of Balakrishnapillai. One Sicankutty Buna Muni saw Surya fleeing home at that time, as did Kumyumun, a neighbour of Balakrishanapillai, who saw her running from Balakrishnapillai's house half-naked and with her hands covering her genitals. She was crying and in an obvious state of distress. A case was lodged by Suranadu police in a FIR with Crime No. 26/2000 u/s. 376 IPC and 3(1)(xi) SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, dated 05.02.2000. However, though Suranadu police have registered the case against Balakrishnapillai, and police and the Additional Superintendent of Police have enquired this case, there seems to be reason to believe that Balakrishnapillai enjoys sufficient wealth and connection as compared with Sushila and her family, so as to prevent any action being taken against hi. This is despite Balakrishnapillai being known for molesting young Dalit and other "lower catse" girls. Though Sushila has proffered complaints to the Kollan District Collector and the Kolla District Catse Office on Februart 2000, detailing her knowledge that Balakrishnapillai has been hiding with relatives nearby, no further action has been taken to arrest the accused rapist. The question remains whether this case will be consigned to the pile of numerous cases of rapes and violence against women that go 'unsolved' in the country due to no pursuance by the concerned authorities, leaving the present accused free to coerce and molest to there Dalit girls. The mentalagony and trauma of a 10-year-old child is being dismissed through his inaction and inability to arrest the accused, and so Surya, who has suffered which psychological trauma from her rape that she has blocked out all memory of the incident, now lived in fear of men and gas lived in pain following the brutal rape. Act Now for Harmony and Democracy dalits, a people, a culture, a history NCDHR Printed by: Nidhip Graphics, M: 94260 16031 E-mail: [email protected]

Acquisition Number: 2005-190

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