Several women's organisations and concerned citizens joined the protest outside Kerala House, Delhi today at 2 pm to raise their voice against the gruesome rape and murder of the Dalit law student Jisha on April 28 in Ernakulam.
Angry women raised slogans such as
'Kerala sarkar hosh me aao, Jisha ke hatyaron ko bachana band karo'
'mahilaon ko suraksha de na sake jo, vo sarkar nikammi hai'
'jo sakar nikammi hai, vo sarkar badalni hai'
The demonstration was addressed by AIDWA General Secretary Jagmati Sangwan who informed us that Jisha's mother told AIDWA delegation in Kerala that her daughter could have been saved had the police taken timely action against the miscreants. She denounced the callousness of Kerala government and the police and asked the Government of Kerala to book the culprits sooner than later.
Others who spoke were Maimoona Mollah (AIDWA), Shabnam Hashmi (ANHAD) and Vrishali (Stree Mukti Sangathana). Asha Sharma (AIDWA) conducted the meeting. Dalit Mahila Suraksha Samiti also participated in the protest demo.
The demonstration continued for over 2 hours but the Resident Commissioner refused to meet the delegation and relented only after the protests grew louder and the protesters refused to leave the venue.
The memo that was submitted demanded:
- That the suspected people should be arrested immediately.
- A credible investigation /enquiry be undertaken into this rarest of the rare case involving most barbaric treatment used against the innocent victim.
- Responsibility of the concerned officer be fixed who did not act on the earlier complaint of mother.
- Justice to the other rape survivor of Thiruvananadapuram.
