One of the two sisters sentenced
to be gang-raped in India has spoken of her fear that the village elders who
ordered the vile punishment will send someone to carry it out. Meenakshi
Kumari, 23, and her sister were sentenced after their brother ran off with a
married woman from a higher caste.
She told how she has not been able
to sleep properly or leave the house after fleeing her village to a secret
location in Delhi.
to sleep properly or leave the house after fleeing her village to a secret
location in Delhi.
She said: “I can’t sleep, I’m
very scared. How will we ever return home or to our village? If we ever return
they will harm us or rape us. If not today then in the future. Jats never
forget and they will not forget this humiliation. They want their revenge.
Loving someone is not wrong.”
very scared. How will we ever return home or to our village? If we ever return
they will harm us or rape us. If not today then in the future. Jats never
forget and they will not forget this humiliation. They want their revenge.
Loving someone is not wrong.”
Meenakshi and her little sister
were with the family in Delhi for a wedding when a neighbour called them and
told them not to return to the village as the un-elected village council, Khap
panchayat, dominated by upper caste “Jat” men, ordered the two sisters
be raped and paraded naked with their faces blackened as punishment for their
brother’s actions.
were with the family in Delhi for a wedding when a neighbour called them and
told them not to return to the village as the un-elected village council, Khap
panchayat, dominated by upper caste “Jat” men, ordered the two sisters
be raped and paraded naked with their faces blackened as punishment for their
brother’s actions.
Their brother, Ravi Kumar, 25,
from the Dalit caste, historically known as “untouchables”, had been
in a relationship with 21-year-old Krishna from the Jat caste for almost two
years.
from the Dalit caste, historically known as “untouchables”, had been
in a relationship with 21-year-old Krishna from the Jat caste for almost two
years.
When both families came to know
they did all they could to keep the two apart.
they did all they could to keep the two apart.
Older brother Sumit Kumar, 28, who
works as a constable in the Delhi Police, said he told his younger brother to
end the relationship immediately because they could never be together.
works as a constable in the Delhi Police, said he told his younger brother to
end the relationship immediately because they could never be together.
He said: “We belong to a
lower caste and they are from an upper caste and I told him this relationship
could never work. We are treated as untouchables but he didn’t listen to me and
now we are paying for it.”
lower caste and they are from an upper caste and I told him this relationship
could never work. We are treated as untouchables but he didn’t listen to me and
now we are paying for it.”
Ravi met Krishna two years ago
when she joined his computer classes for children, in Khekada, Uttar Pradesh,
central India.
when she joined his computer classes for children, in Khekada, Uttar Pradesh,
central India.
They exchanged phone numbers and
quickly fell in love. They’d be on the phone to each other all the time and
meeting in secret locations.
quickly fell in love. They’d be on the phone to each other all the time and
meeting in secret locations.
But as soon as Ravi’s father Naik
Dharampal Singh, 52, heard of the relationship he told him to end it.
Dharampal Singh, 52, heard of the relationship he told him to end it.
Even though Ravi ended the
relationship they couldn’t bear to be apart. Eventually Krishna’s parents
started looking for prospective husbands for her but she refused.
relationship they couldn’t bear to be apart. Eventually Krishna’s parents
started looking for prospective husbands for her but she refused.
“It was hard for my brother
but he understood the situation,” Sumit said.
but he understood the situation,” Sumit said.
“Her family knew about their
relationship before the marriage. They beat their daughter a lot and gave my
brother warnings many times.
relationship before the marriage. They beat their daughter a lot and gave my
brother warnings many times.
“In the end my brother told
her to go ahead with the marriage, she had to. She went ahead with the marriage
in Haryana but she was very unhappy. They treated her like a maid.
her to go ahead with the marriage, she had to. She went ahead with the marriage
in Haryana but she was very unhappy. They treated her like a maid.
So she left and returned home. And
that’s when she and my brother started their relationship again.”
that’s when she and my brother started their relationship again.”
Ravi and Krishna had eloped twice
before but had returned. Each time Sumit claimed her family beat her.
before but had returned. Each time Sumit claimed her family beat her.
“We made him understand it
was dangerous. At the end of the day it’d be our family who would suffer. He
understood what he was doing, he knew the risks but love took over.
was dangerous. At the end of the day it’d be our family who would suffer. He
understood what he was doing, he knew the risks but love took over.
“When the girl got in touch
with him he just couldn’t contain his emotions. We are now helpless. His future
is ruined completely and our family is in danger,” he said sobering.
with him he just couldn’t contain his emotions. We are now helpless. His future
is ruined completely and our family is in danger,” he said sobering.
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