A protest was held in Patna on 7 November against the police inaction in a case of gang rape and murder of a minor girl in Mahua Bagh, Bihar. The young girl had gone to listen to a ‘mata jagaran’ at the local Shiva temple on 1 November – and had been gang raped. A delegation consisting of Gurudev Das, Jayprakash Paswan, Gopal Ravidas, Sharifa Manjhi and Nirmala Devi met the thana incharge at Parsa bazaar police station and demanded a speedy and proper enquiry into the matter, compensation of Rs 10 lakhs and a job for a family member, as well as action against the ongoing intimidation of the victim’s family.
On 8 November, various women’s organisations in Patna held a joint protest at Kargil chowk demanding justice for the Kurmuri gang rape victims as well as the Parsa Bazaar victim. AIPWA, Bihar Mahila Samaj, Kamkaji Mahila Association, Dalit Adhikar Manch, Women’s Network and other women’s groups, activists and intellectuals joined this protest. The protestors pointed out that despite growing instances of sexual, patriarchal and feudal violence in the State, the ruling government seemed determined not to take any strong action. Moreover, the opposition BJP forces choose to conveniently support the perpetrators in cases of feudal violence such as the Kurmuri gang rape case. The protestors pointed out the need to fight all instances of sexual violence, irrespective of considerations of caste and religion. The protest was conducted by Com. Anita Sinha. AIPWA general secretary Meena Tiwari, AIPWA state president Saroj Choubey, Sushila Sahay, Dr. Shanti Ojha, Shivani, Nivedita and Rampari amongst others addressed the protest. Vibha Gupta, Anuradha, Manju Yadav, Janki Devi and others participated in the protest.
