New Delhi

AIDWA writes to Mayawati on Noida double murder

Aarushi Talwar and domestic help Hemraj who were brutally murdered at their Noida residence a fortnight ago.

NEW DELHI: The All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) has asked the Uttar Pradesh government to take strict action against all those who have indulged in “inappropriate, libellous and atrocious” behaviour in connection with the double murder, including that of a minor girl, in Noida a fortnight ago.

In an open letter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, AIDWA president Subhashini Ali has said the brutal murders of young Aarushi and Hemraj have stunned the nation.

The fact that an innocent girl had been murdered in her own home had increased the sense of insecurity that was already widespread among girls and women. To restore confidence, it was essential that the State behaved with sensitivity and efficiency, she said.

The officers of the State police had given the worst exhibition of patriarchal prejudice and insensitivity in their handling of the case. From the beginning, they had indulged in mudslinging against all women involved in the family, but the most unforgivable was that they had not even spared Aarushi who was not there to defend herself, the letter said.

“The police have also revealed their anti-poor prejudices in the way that they blamed Hemraj for Aarushi’s murder until such time as his body was found. After that they insinuated that his relationship with the young girl was not normal.”

To cover up for their own inefficiencies and lapses, the police officials have regularly used the print and electronic media to make the most “outrageous and unsubstantiated” allegations against Aarushi, her mother and family friend Anita Durrani, the letter said.

It pointed out that they had indulged in the most objectionable form of character assassination. “They have even made suggestions to the effect that Dr. Talwar had an ‘abnormal’ relationship with his child.”

Appreciating the Chief Minister for being a stern administrator who did not tolerate any kind of unjust and inappropriate behaviour on the part of the police and administrative officials, AIDWA hoped that she would ensure that those responsible for the ghastly murders were brought to justice and the policemen responsible for complete insensitivity, patriarchal prejudice and character assassination punished.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked the Uttar Pradesh police to explain within 15 days on what basis they claimed that Aarushi had “objectionable” relation with Hemraj.

The Child Rights Commission has issued a notice to Uttar Pradesh police asking them to explain the “proximity angle” in their investigation.

The State police, which is investigating the murder, had claimed that the girl’s father, Rajesh Talwar, had found the teenager in an “objectionable condition” with her domestic help.

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