Naked Woman Publicly Displayed: An Unfortunate and Recurring Headline in India

A woman in India was recently stripped and paraded naked, an incident that has caused outrage. Legal experts and gender rights activists argue that the current law is insufficient in dealing with such horrific crimes against women. The incident occurred in the early hours of December 11 when a group of over a dozen people forcibly entered the home of the victim, known as Sasikala. She was dragged out, stripped, and paraded naked around her village. She was then tied to an electricity pole and beaten for several hours. This brutal punishment was inflicted on her because her 24-year-old son had eloped with his 18-year-old girlfriend. The young woman was engaged to another man and was supposed to get married the next day. Her family was furious and wanted to know the couple's whereabouts. The police were alerted to the situation and reached the village at around 4 am. They rescued Sasikala and took her to the hospital. She is reported to be suffering from severe trauma. Her husband later informed a state minister that they were unaware of the relationship. More than a dozen individuals have been arrested, and a local police officer has been suspended for negligence. The incident garnered national attention, and the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, referred to it as an "inhuman act" and promised justice for the victim. The government also provided her with agricultural land and financial assistance. However, authorities acknowledge that there can be no compensation for the humiliation she endured. The incident in Belagavi is sadly not an isolated case. Similar incidents have made headlines in recent years. One notorious case occurred in Manipur when a video went viral showing two women being dragged and groped by a mob of men, with one of them allegedly being gang-raped. This attack had political undertones, as Manipur was experiencing violent ethnic clashes. However, reports from various states indicate that such incidents often stem from caste or familial conflicts, with women's bodies becoming the battleground. In Rajasthan, a pregnant woman was paraded naked by her husband and in-laws after she reportedly left him for another man. In Gujarat, a tribal woman was punished in a similar manner for eloping with another man. These incidents represent just a few of the many cases that have received media attention. Activists argue that there is a lack of data on such crimes, as many women choose not to report them due to fear of insensitive questioning by the police and in courts. The National Crime Records Bureau records them under a broad category called "assault with intent to outrage a woman's modesty," which encompasses various offenses such as street harassment, voyeurism, and stalking. In 2020, 83,344 such cases were recorded, affecting 85,300 women. The punishment for these crimes, outlined in Article 354 of the Indian Penal Code, is a mere three to seven years in jail, which activists consider grossly inadequate. They argue that the law needs to be amended to enhance the punishment and serve as a deterrent. Amidst the discussion about legal measures, the Karnataka high court judges emphasized the need for collective responsibility to prevent such atrocities. They referenced a case from the 1830s when an entire village was made to pay for a crime. The judges suggested that all villagers should be held accountable for their actions and that someone should have intervened to stop the assault. Some activists believe that the solution lies not only in legal reforms but also in raising better boys who respect women and understand that connecting a woman's body to her honor is problematic. Maumil Mehraj, a researcher who works on gender equality, highlights the voyeuristic nature of these incidents and suggests that they have become normalized to the extent that even the next generation participates in them. She argues that addressing these issues requires an early focus on educating and instilling better values in boys. Overall, activists assert that the prevalent violence against women can only be curbed through comprehensive efforts that go beyond legal measures. It is essential to challenge societal norms, promote gender equality, and ensure that women have a safe space to report these crimes.