The alleged gang-rape of a Pakistani refugee Hindu girl in Jaisalmer has been shocking; what's more shocking? Media's silence..
Jaisalmer shakes with the horrific alleged gang-rape of a minor Pakistani Hindu refugee girl. The family of the victim, who had escaped persecution in Pakistan, now has a terrible tragedy to face. The crime has initiated huge protests and calls for justice from local communities and activists alike, such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Hopefully, the authorities get to the bottom of the incident, and this doesn't get escalated to be a political issue rather than a crime to be solved.
The girl had been allegedly kidnapped and raped by several accused. Early police inaction invited strong criticism from protesters who organised dharnas outside the district collector's office and demanded arrest and severe punishment. Though serious, arrests were delayed by over 20 days.
Two of the suspects, Mohd Qurban and Mohd Shabbir of Mewat, have been arrested, providing a ray of hope for justice. Still, protests are ongoing, with demands for a proper, transparent investigation and protection of vulnerable refugee groups in border regions such as Jaisalmer.
This case has revealed the increased vulnerabilities that minor refugee girls, particularly displaced by geopolitical and religious unrest, are exposed to. Activists call upon the state to increase mechanisms for protecting these vulnerable groups in terms of security and legal aid.
The event has heightened calls for improved policing and swift justice. Officialdom is under fire for their slow response time and generally insensitivity towards handling minority and refugee victims' crimes.
In spite of the gravity of the crime and persistent protests, there has also been a noticeable absence of reporting by mainstream, specially English-language media. Activists, political leaders, and social commentators have condemned this silence in public as a sidelining of minority and refugee concerns and a refusal to highlight crimes against vulnerable segments of society. This lack of exposure has added to further outrage and suspicion on the part of affected communities who feel that their pain is being negated or glossed over.
The gangrape case is a bitter reminder of the plight of refugee communities. While arrests represent the beginnings of justice, repeated protests and media silence are reminders of the imperative to provide safety, dignity, and legal cover to all vulnerable sections in society. Vigilance, accountability, and good journalism continue to be important as the investigation goes on. And lastly, this hopefully remains a crime to be solved and not a political blame-game, adding fire to the primetime debates for the mainstream media to spike their TRP.
