The All India Democratic Women’s Association strongly condemns increasing instances of rape, gang rape and other kinds of violence on women in the BJP-ruled state of Tripura. It notes with concern that the Tripura State Committee of AIDWA has recorded at least 12 instances of such violence in the period between 15 April and 1 June, 2023 alone (attached in appendix). More than half of the victims in these incidents were minor and young girls, two of them were tribal women and one a disabled woman. More than one instance of targeted political violence against women has been reported, particularly since BJP’s victory in the last Assembly elections in Tripura.
Tripura AIDWA has been protesting against these and has petitioned the Tripura State Women’s Commission to take cognizance of the increasing rate of violence against women. Predictably both the Government and the Women’s Commission have continued to ignore these petitions and to provide protection and support to the accused as BJP has been doing in the rest of the country.
The AIDWA expresses solidarity with the women of Tripura and calls upon its units all over the country as also other democratically–minded citizens to campaign against the inaction of the Tripura Government and to demand justice for the women who are under attack. It demands that the Tripura Women’s Commission sets up a fact-finding committee and release a report on action taken against culprits in these cases. AIDWA demands that the Government immediately apprehend the accused and take appropriate measures for protection of women in the state.
APPENDIX:
Instances of Violence Recorded by Tripura between15 April-1June, 2023
15 April, 2023 –rape of 12year old girl
23 April, 2023 attempt of rape by BJP goons and panchayat pradhan
2 May, 2023 –rape of mentally retarded woman
9 May, 2023- rape of college student in Agartala
14 May, 2023- rape of two tribal girls
24 May, 2023 – rape of 8 year old girl
28 May, 2023 - gang-rape of 11 year old girl
30 May, 2023- molestation of housewife
31 May, 2023 - molestation of a young girl in the city
1 June, 2023- rape of a 5 year old girl
1 June, 2023- gang-rape of 14 year old girl
2 June, 2023 - abduction of a 14 year old girl and an ITI student.
