Assam University incident: How safe is our town for women?

December 4: It’s now midnight. The temperature is 14 degree Celsius. Braving the cold weather, the students of Assam University, Silchar are still on the streets near the main gate of the varsity and will continue to be there the whole night as per the statement given by the office bearers of the Students’ Union.

A female student was molested by three miscreants in broad daylight at a busiest spot of that of the main gate of Silchar Medical College & Hospital. Her two male classmates were physically assaulted over there. The usual crowd passed by as mute spectators. Even an on-duty traffic constable posted over there was reluctant to come to the rescue of the victims. On the basis of these allegations, students of Assam University sat on dharna near the main gate of the varsity, thereby blocking the Silchar-Dwarbond main road from Wednesday morning.

Assam University Teachers’ Association (AUTA) and Cachar Zone of Assam College Teachers’ Association (ACTA) also expressed solidarity with the students of the varsity and raised demand of nabbing the miscreants who molested and misbehaved with the students.

Dr. Pradosh Kiran Nath, Registrar in-charge of Assam University also wrote to the district and police administration to step in and arrest those involved in the crime against the students. The entire University came to a standstill as all officials, staff and faculty members remained outside the main gate.where the students were agitating.

In a Facebook post, Dawipan Deb, a junior doctor at Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH) wrote, “The area in concern is known for such malicious incidents even after having a police Outpost within 500 metres of the same. I have no shame in saying that even students and female doctors of SMCH have faced eve-teasing specially during night shifts. I stand in solidarity with the students who were attacked and demand strict action against the culprits at the earliest. We promise to provide all necessary support to the Assam University Students’ Union if and when necessary.”

“If such kind of incident can happen with a female student during day time at Silchar then you can imagine what can happen with them when they move around through the lonely streets of Dargakona to Silchar, or even at night in the town,” remarked Aritra Dhar, General Secretary of Assam University Students’ Union (AUSU). Aritra further said, “A custodian of law (the traffic police) who watched the entire incident of molestation from a safe distance and refused to help them is our protector! Shame on them. Cachar Police takes more than 24 hours to suspend such erring policeman is the most unfortunate incident.”

Another female student of Social Work Department of Assam University while speaking to way2barak said, “Look Sir, the funeral pyre of Dr. Priyanka Reddy raped and brutally murdered has not yet extinguished and here at Silchar an incident of molestation occurs. It’s indeed unfortunate that we the students have to sit for dharna to compel the police to nab the culprits. Had we not been on the roads, then the policeman who did not come to rescue the students would have remained on duty quite normally. Everybody is demanding the culprits of Dr. Reddy’s death should be hanged so that it should be a lesson for others. But I am sorry to say that the criminals and anti-socials will be happy to know that police won’t take any action against any miscreants until and unless people come down on the street to protest!”

Milon Das, President of Assam University Research Scholars Association also voiced anger against the role of police. He said, “We are determined in our resolution. We will not move from the streets until all the 3 miscreants are arrested. Police has said that they have already arrested one miscreant and have identified the other two who are absconding at present. But we are very clear in our demand.” Later on in the evening when the order of suspension of the traffic constable Prodip Singh Chetry was issued by the Superintendent of Police, Cachar, Milon said, “Surprising indeed! What should have been done yesterday was delayed by more than 24 hours.”

Meanwhile apart from suspending the police constable Prodip Singh Chetri, Cachar Police also arrested one Zeaur Rahman Laskar of Atalbosti in connection with attack on Assam University students. However, the other two miscreants involved in this crime are still absconding. SP Mugdhajyoti Dev Mahanta said that police are exploring all means to nab the other two accused in this incident. He, however, said that at this moment it is not possible on their part to give any time frame regarding nabbing the other two persons, but are trying their utmost to arrest them as soon as possible.

It’s now 11 PM on Wednesday and still the students in this winter night are on dharna near the main gate of the University. Milon Das while speaking to our correspondent said, “We have sent all the female students and the juniors. At night the senior students and members of the Students’ Union will be sitting over here near the main gate. We want justice and for achieving justice, we are ready to sit on the streets of the cold winter night for nights together until all the miscreants are nabbed.” So the question which is doing the round in the minds of the people are: How safe is our town for women?