Date:23/08/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/08/23/stories/2005082301171300.htm

Other States - Assam

Punishment sought for rape of daughter-in-law

Special Correspondent

GUWAHATI: The Assam unit of the All-India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) on Monday demanded exemplary punishment to the father-in-law of Imrana-like victim in Assam, Jotsnara Begum of Nagaon district.

Briefing reporters about the findings of a fact-finding committee, State president Madhuri Devi and secretary Meera Tamuli said the victim was still in a state of shock and in constant fear.

Although the victim had initially expressed her willingness to be present at the press conference and narrate her tale to the media, her family members expressed inability to bring her to the city in view of a threat issued to her.

The victim alleged before the AIDWA delegation that she was raped on May 25 by her father-in-law Moinuddin (50) when she was alone in her home at Damdamia under Dhing police station.

The family initially did not inform the police, but went to local religious elders who gave the decree that she divorce her husband. The 19-year-old woman now living with her parents filed an FIR with the Dhing police station on July 8. Following the religious edict the husband also refused to keep her and was compelled to give her talaq, Ms. Tamuli said.

The AIDWA delegation had organised a meeting in the village to protest against the diktat of the Qazi asking her to marry her father-in-law who allegedly raped her when her husband and mother-in-law were away in Dimapur. Ms. Devi and Ms. Tamuli told reporters that the State unit would urge the AIDWA central committee to build up a countrywide opinion against such barbaric incidents and injustice to women.