A Survivor's Struggle: The Brutality and Misconduct of Law Enforcement in Shahana Parveen’s Case
घटना की पूरी कहानी: एक संघर्ष की गवाही
आस-पास के जितने लोग खड़े थे, सभी से दरोगा साहब पूछ रहे थे कि किसने देखा है? इस लड़की के साथ बलात्कार होते और कहाँ ऊँगली की गई? दरोगा साहब का यह शब्द सुनते ही लोग अवाक् रह गए।
मेरा नाम शाहाना परवीन, उम्र 19 वर्ष है। मेरे पिता का नाम अखलाक अहमद है और हम मं०न० संख्या जे0 33/26 कच्चीबाग, आजाद पार्क, वाराणसी के निवासी हैं। मेरे पिता जी मजदूरी करके जीवन यापन करते हैं। मैं जाति से मुस्लिम हूँ। हमारे घर की आर्थिक हालत ठीक नहीं है। लॉकडाउन से पहले मेरे घर में बिनकारी का काम होता था, लेकिन लॉकडाउन के बाद परिवार भुखमरी के कगार पर खड़ा हो गया और अब हम चाय-पान की दुकान खोलकर गुजर-बसर कर रहे हैं।
घटना दिनांक 30 दिसंबर, 2021 की रात 9 बजे के करीब, मेरे चाचा रिजवान अहमद, समीम अहमद (सौतेले चाचा), बड़े अब्बू रमजान अली के तीन बेटे आशिफ जमाल (बड़े भाई), शाहीद जमाल (मंझले), और छोटे में अनस ने एकजुट होकर मेरे अब्बू के कमरे में आकर भद्दी-भद्दी गालियाँ देते हुए अब्बू पर जानलेवा हमला कर दिया। उस समय मेरे अब्बू अकेले अपने कमरे में थे, और घर में अम्मी, बहन, भाई सभी दूसरे कमरे में थे। शोर की आवाज़ सुनकर भाई-बहन दौड़ कर गए और देखा कि मेरे अब्बू पर हमला हो रहा था। वे रोने और चिल्लाने लगे, "आप सब मिलकर अब्बू को क्यों मार रहे हो?" भाई-बहन के बचाव में शारीरिक हिंसा और बढ़ गई।
मेरे बड़े अब्बू चाँद अहमद ने अपने बेटे से कहा, "यह बहुत चिल्लाती है, इसका वो हाल करो कि इसका चिल्लाना बंद हो जाए और समाज में मुंह दिखाने के काबिल न रहे।" बड़े अब्बू के लड़के शाहीद और आशिफ ने मुझे बाल पकड़ कर घसीटते हुए दूसरे कमरे में ले गए। मैं चिल्लाती रही, लेकिन उन्होंने मुझे दरिंदगी से शांत किया।
मुझे गाली देते हुए, उन लोगों ने कहा कि इस घटना के बारे में किसी को कुछ न बताना, और कहा कि अगर किसी को यह पता चला तो वे मेरी बेटी को गायब करवा देंगे। इस स्थिति ने मुझे गहरे अपमान और शर्मिंदगी में डाल दिया।
घटना के बाद जब मैंने जैतपुर थाना में शिकायत करने की कोशिश की, तो मुझे पुलिस द्वारा गेट पर ही रोक दिया गया और कहा गया कि पहले मेडिकल कराओ। 1 जनवरी, 2022 को मैं मेडिकल कराने गई, लेकिन पुलिस ने मेडिकल भी नहीं लिया। इसके बाद मैंने पुलिस आयुक्त वाराणसी से शिकायत की, जिसके आदेश पर 7 जनवरी, 2022 को अपराध संख्या 05/22 दर्ज किया गया।
9 जनवरी, 2022 को दरोगा घनश्याम मिश्रा मेरे घर आए और दरवाजे पर खड़े होकर मुझसे प्रश्न पूछने लगे। उन्होंने आस-पास के लोगों से भी पूछा कि किसने देखा था कि मेरे साथ क्या हुआ था। उनकी यह बातें सुनकर मुझे गहरी शर्मिंदगी और मानसिक आघात हुआ। उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि अगर मुकदमा वापस नहीं लिया तो वे मुझसे गवाह लाने को कहेंगे और मेरे परिवार के लोगों को भी फंसा देंगे।
मैंने पुलिस के इस रवैये का विरोध किया, लेकिन मुझे लगातार धमकियां दी जाती रहीं। 16 जनवरी, 2022 को पुलिस ने फिर से मुझे मेडिकल के लिए बुलाया, और मुझे बार-बार यह सवाल पूछा गया कि क्या अब भी मैं मेडिकल कराना चाहती हूँ, जबकि यह सब पहले ही हो चुका था।
मुझे हमेशा यह समझाया जाता रहा कि मैं मुकदमा वापस लूँ, और दरोगा साहब ने कहा कि मुकदमा वापस ले लेने से मुझे पैसे मिलेंगे। लेकिन मैंने उनसे कहा कि मुझे पैसा नहीं, इंसाफ चाहिए। इसके बाद 27 जनवरी, 2022 को मेरा बयान कोर्ट में हुआ।
9 फरवरी, 2022 को दरोगा साहब ने मुझे फिर से फोन किया और गवाहों को लेकर थाने आने को कहा। लेकिन जब मैं गवाहों को लेकर थाने जा रही थी, तो दरोगा साहब ने खुद मेरे घर आकर मोहल्ले में शोर मचाना शुरू कर दिया। वे लोगों से गवाहों के बारे में सवाल पूछते रहे, और जब गवाहों के बयान लिए गए, तो दरोगा साहब ने उन्हें धमकाया और थाने से भगा दिया।
इन सब के बावजूद, मेरे मामले में कोई उचित कार्यवाही नहीं की गई। दरोगा साहब ने मेरी बेइज्जती करने और मामले को दबाने के कई प्रयास किए। मैंने देखा कि जिस कानून और सुरक्षा व्यवस्था से हमें उम्मीद थी, वह हमारी मदद नहीं कर रही थी, बल्कि भ्रष्टाचार और अन्याय का शिकार बना दिया गया।
यह सब देखकर मुझे और मेरे परिवार को मानसिक और शारीरिक रूप से बहुत तकलीफ हुई है। इस मामले को लेकर हम दिन-रात चिंता में रहते हैं और डर के साए में जीवन बिता रहे हैं।
Everyone standing around was silent as the inspector kept asking, "Who saw this? Who saw this girl being assaulted and where was the finger pointed?" Upon hearing these words from the inspector, the people around stood stunned.
My name is Shahana Parveen, I am 19 years old. My father’s name is Akhlaq Ahmad, and we live at House No. J-33/26, Kacchi Bagh, Azad Park, Varanasi. My father works as a laborer. I belong to a Muslim family, and our financial situation is not stable. Before the lockdown, we were involved in a small business, but since the lockdown began, my family has been on the verge of starvation. As a result, we started a tea and pan shop to make ends meet.
The incident occurred on the night of December 30, 2021, around 9 pm. My uncles—Rizwan Ahmad, Sameem Ahmad (my step-uncle), and my older uncle Ramadan Ali's three sons, Asif Jamal (the eldest), Shahid Jamal (the middle one), and Anas (the youngest)—all came together and barged into my father’s room, hurling abusive language and attacking him. My father was all alone in the room at the time, while my mother, sister, and brothers were in the other rooms. When they attacked my father, the noise alerted my siblings, who rushed to the room.
Upon seeing my father being beaten, I started crying and shouting, asking why they were hurting him. As my brothers and sisters tried to intervene, they increased the assault. My older uncle, Chand Ahmad, told his son to deal with me as I was shouting too much and to make sure I was silenced and no longer able to show my face in the community. My uncle's sons, Shahid Jamal and Asif Jamal, grabbed my hair and dragged me into another room. I continued screaming. Shahid Jamal pulled my hair, tore my clothes, and Asif Jamal pressed his hand over my chest and inserted his finger into my private parts. I screamed loudly and kept calling out to my siblings, but no one heard my cries.
When my mother, sister, and brother heard the noise and saw that they were covering my mouth, they pulled their hair and managed to stop them. However, as they were leaving, they warned me to keep quiet and leave the house. They also threatened that if anyone found out what happened, they would make my daughter disappear and force her into a brothel. At that moment, I felt so humiliated, not knowing how I would face anyone after this.
The next day, I went to the Jaitpur police station to file a complaint, but a police officer stopped me at the gate and turned me away, telling me to get a medical report first. On January 1, 2022, I went on my own to get the medical report but the police did not even take it. Later, I complained to the police commissioner of Varanasi, and under his orders, on January 7, 2022, an FIR was registered (No. 05/22) under sections 147, 354(c), 354(d), 323, 504, and 506.
On January 9, 2022, at 4 pm, Inspector Ghanshyam Mishra arrived at my house, knocking on the door. Upon hearing the knock, my father answered and asked what had happened. As people gathered around, the inspector pointed at me and asked, “Your name is Shahana, right?” When I confirmed, the inspector started shouting, asking, “Tell me who it was that assaulted you? Who saw it happen? Who was there when this girl was raped and where was the finger pointed?” Hearing these words made me feel embarrassed. I hesitantly said, “Sir, please come inside and ask.” The inspector shouted back, “When you went to file a complaint at the police commissioner’s office, you didn’t feel embarrassed. Now you’re ashamed? Tell me in front of everyone where you were assaulted. This is just the beginning. You will be asked these questions everywhere. Who saw this? Who knows what happened?” The inspector asked for the names and numbers of my neighbors and noted them down. He then said, "This is why we tell people to drop their complaints. If you don't, I will protect them. If you bring ten witnesses, I will bring twenty witnesses for them. We’ll reduce the charges, and they won’t be arrested.”
The inspector continued threatening, “We’ll file false cases against your father and brothers first, then cool things down. Afterward, let’s see who will marry you. You won’t be able to stay anywhere.” After saying all this, the inspector left, but a week later, he called me back to the police station.
When I went a week later, a female constable took my statement. The inspector read it and said, “We thought you would settle this, but you’ve written the whole story. We’re still trying to make you understand. You’re like a daughter to me. Drop the case and we will give you one and a half lakh rupees. You’ll benefit, and so will we.” Hearing this, I was shocked. I could only say, “Sir, we don’t want money, we want justice.”
On January 16, 2022, the police called me to get a medical examination done at Kabir Chaura Hospital. They kept asking me repeatedly, "Will you get the medical exam done? There’s no point in doing it now." I replied, "When we came to the police station, you didn’t let me get the medical exam done, but now you want me to do it? It’s already too late." Ignoring me, they went ahead with the exam, and after it was done, I returned home.
Later, the inspector kept calling me to the court for my statement under section 164. Every time I went, he would tell me that it wasn’t the right time and to go back. He continued pressuring me to withdraw the case, saying, “You are like my daughter. If this happened to your daughter, would you drop the case?” When I responded, “Sir, if this happened to your daughter, would you drop the case?” the inspector became angry and said, “I don’t talk to girls like this.” He then added, “If something like this happened to my daughter, I would file a lawsuit and go to jail. It’s an insult to my honor. Go away now.”
Analysis of Police Misbehavior and Brutality
The case of Shahana Parveen reveals a troubling pattern of police misconduct, insensitivity, and brutality, highlighting a systemic failure to uphold justice. Below are some key points of analysis:
Victim Blaming and Public Humiliation: When Shahana Parveen tried to file a complaint, the inspector, rather than offering support or conducting a professional inquiry, openly humiliated her. By asking her to recount the assault in front of a crowd and accusing her of exaggerating or lying, he not only undermined her dignity but also discouraged her from pursuing justice. This kind of behavior can retraumatize victims, leading them to feel powerless and further silenced.
Neglect of Legal Duty: The police failed to take Shahana’s complaint seriously, initially blocking her from filing an FIR, refusing her medical examination, and obstructing the legal process at every stage. When the case was finally registered, there was no urgency in investigating the allegations, with the inspector's actions indicating a clear attempt to cover up the crime. This negligence is indicative of systemic issues within law enforcement, where victims, particularly from marginalized communities, are denied access to justice.
Threats and Intimidation: The inspector’s repeated threats to Shahana and her family—including the suggestion that she would never find a suitor and would be ostracized in her community—reflect a deep-seated corruption and a lack of professional ethics. Such intimidation tactics are a common means by which the police dissuade victims from pursuing cases, particularly those involving powerful or influential perpetrators. By questioning her motives, the police shifted the focus away from the crime itself and onto the victim’s character.
Failure to Protect Victims of Gender-Based Violence: Shahana’s case highlights a broader problem within law enforcement’s treatment of cases involving sexual violence. The inspector's dismissive attitude toward the crime, combined with his attempt to discourage her from pursuing the case, reflects a failure to recognize the severity of gender-based violence. By not taking immediate and appropriate action to protect Shahana and her family, the police not only allowed the perpetrators to go unpunished but also perpetuated a culture of impunity for offenders.
Use of Power to Manipulate the Legal Process: The inspector’s suggestion that Shahana could be bought off with money further illustrates how some law enforcement officers abuse their position of power to obstruct justice. By offering a bribe, the inspector not only violated ethical standards but also created an environment where victims feel that their pain and trauma can be ignored for a price.
Psychological and Emotional Impact on the Victim: The constant harassment, threats, and public humiliation inflicted on Shahana by the police compounded her trauma. Instead of providing a sense of justice or safety, the police actions left Shahana fearful, distressed, and isolated. This emotional and psychological toll on the victim can have long-term consequences, potentially leading to a sense of hopelessness and distrust in the justice system.
Conclusion:
The case exemplifies how law enforcement can contribute to the cycle of victimization by failing to act impartially and allowing perpetrators to evade justice. The police's behavior toward Shahana Parveen, including humiliation, intimidation, neglect, and manipulation, underscores the urgent need for reforms within the system to ensure that all victims, regardless of their social standing, are treated with dignity and respect. Police brutality and misconduct must be addressed through accountability, transparency, and rigorous training to prevent such abuses from occurring in the future.
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