The scourge that is eve teasing
Thursday, 18 September 2008
THIS happened in Jhenaidah. Krishna of Tikari village was a student of Class XII at JMC College but on her way to and from the college she was regularly teased by fellow student Rubel. Then on September 1, during a reception to an outgoing teacher, Rubel grabbed Krishna and kissed her in front of other students.
Shocked beyond words by the insult, on September 4, Krishna went to the principal of the college, Anwar Hossain, and complained to him about the matter. The principal, instead of offering any sympathy sided with the culprit and severely rebuked the poor girl. He also suggested that she should not come to the college anymore, and if she did, she would have to sit alone in a single bench.
With no one to turn to Krishna took the severest of decisions: she would end her life. She came home, took her mother's sari and hanged herself from the ceiling.
It was when they were taking her body to the cremation grounds that the police intervened and sent her body to the morgue for autopsy.
After learning more about the matter, the police went to the college and picked up a student who revealed everything. He also claimed he had protested the matter and complained to the principal who dismissed it as if nothing untoward had happened. Krishna's aunt also said that they had gone to the principal for justice in the matter but he did not do anything.
Police have now arrested the principal of the college and the father of the absconding culprit Rubel. It is hoped that although it is not possible to bring Krishna back, her tormentors as well as the principal and whoever supported him should get exemplary punishment
What is wrong with our young men today? This is not the first suicide as a result of eve teasing. Every now and then we hear of these incidents.
Rampant pornography and the use of drugs are cited as the two evils that prompt these actions. Eve teasing has been there for as far as we can remember but these days they have broken all limits. It is the advent of RAB that the phenomenon has lessened at public places but in a place like Jhenaidah it is perhaps not possible to intervene too much yet.
What is the solution? People have suggested from long jail terms to castration to 'crossfire' but will any of these really work? Whatever has happened to all those people who were responsible for deaths like Krishna's? Have they been convicted and at least jailed? And how long before they are altogether forgotten?
And finally, of what kind of a person is the principal of JMC College? Krishna was like his daughter, so is it not the duty of a father to protect his children?
Rehana Sultana
Mugdapara, Dhaka
Shocked beyond words by the insult, on September 4, Krishna went to the principal of the college, Anwar Hossain, and complained to him about the matter. The principal, instead of offering any sympathy sided with the culprit and severely rebuked the poor girl. He also suggested that she should not come to the college anymore, and if she did, she would have to sit alone in a single bench.
With no one to turn to Krishna took the severest of decisions: she would end her life. She came home, took her mother's sari and hanged herself from the ceiling.
It was when they were taking her body to the cremation grounds that the police intervened and sent her body to the morgue for autopsy.
After learning more about the matter, the police went to the college and picked up a student who revealed everything. He also claimed he had protested the matter and complained to the principal who dismissed it as if nothing untoward had happened. Krishna's aunt also said that they had gone to the principal for justice in the matter but he did not do anything.
Police have now arrested the principal of the college and the father of the absconding culprit Rubel. It is hoped that although it is not possible to bring Krishna back, her tormentors as well as the principal and whoever supported him should get exemplary punishment
What is wrong with our young men today? This is not the first suicide as a result of eve teasing. Every now and then we hear of these incidents.
Rampant pornography and the use of drugs are cited as the two evils that prompt these actions. Eve teasing has been there for as far as we can remember but these days they have broken all limits. It is the advent of RAB that the phenomenon has lessened at public places but in a place like Jhenaidah it is perhaps not possible to intervene too much yet.
What is the solution? People have suggested from long jail terms to castration to 'crossfire' but will any of these really work? Whatever has happened to all those people who were responsible for deaths like Krishna's? Have they been convicted and at least jailed? And how long before they are altogether forgotten?
And finally, of what kind of a person is the principal of JMC College? Krishna was like his daughter, so is it not the duty of a father to protect his children?
Rehana Sultana
Mugdapara, Dhaka