A woman activist who came to support Farmer’s Protest was raped at Delhi- Haryana Tikri border. On Sunday late night Haryana Police arrested six people for gang rape and abduction of the 25-year-old activist from West Bengal. The victim was hospitalized after showing Covid19 symptoms who later passed away.
The accused are identified as Anil Malik, Anup Singh. Ankush Sangwan, Jagdish Brar and two unnamed women. They had pitched the tents at the Tikri border under the banner of Kisan Social Army. The accused are now booked under sections 365, 342, 376-D, 506, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code.
According to FIR details, on April 1, the delegation of farmers including the accused had organized a public meeting in Hooghly, West Bengal. The victim who was an artist, designer, and activist came in their contact and decided to go to protest site in Delhi to support the farmer’s protest.
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On the way to Punjab, on April 11 the victim was assaulted by Anil Malik in train. Next day, on April 12 they reached the protest site where the victim was forced to share the tent with the accused. She told her father about the assault and that the accused were trying to pressurize and blackmail her.
After the family brought the issue to the notice of the farm leaders, her statement was video recorded and she was shifted to another tent with women protestors. A few days later, the victim was diagnosed with Covid19 and was admitted to the hospital where her father joined her for treatment.
On April 30, the victim passed away. Before taking her last breath she requested the accused to be punished but without harming farmer’s protest.
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After the horrifying incident, no farmer leader is willing to explain the delay in filing the FIR. SKM leaders confirmed that they came to know about the harassment of the 25-year-old woman at Tikri border. According to them, the investigation was done on the matter. However, they did not reach the police and refused to provide any details.
BKU Ekta Ugrahan woman wing head Harinder Kaur Bindu said, “Most of the SKM leaders knew about the incident, we are surprised why they kept silent and did not allow us to meet her father, who was under immense pressure.”
Punjab Kisan Union leader Jasbir Kaur Natt was in direct contact with the victim. Jasbir Kaur said, “It is the matter of serious concern which needs to be debated threadbare. Here at the protest, there is no difference between males and females, and women in large numbers are participating. The farmers will investigate and ensure no such thing is allowed to happen again.”