Hyderabad: Sultana (name changed) was tortured by her husband and in-laws as she was not able to give them a male heir, but when she approached the police her pleas were turned down. The case was not filed as it was a ‘personal’ matter.
The same was the case with Namita (name changed) who was beaten up brutally by her husband for trivial reasons like not doing dishes. When Namita approached the police she was sent to a family counseling centre.
“I was asked to go back to my husband and not to break the marriage over such ‘common’ issues,” said Namita who has filed for divorce through mutual consent.
Although, according to police data, harassment cases against women in the twin cities have declined by nearly 19 per cent last year, activists say that lack of awareness about laws and insensitivity of the police and counselling centres are preventing women from approaching them for help.
“In most cases in which a woman is sent to the family counselling centre, she is advised to go back to her husband. She is asked to obey the husband,” said poet activist Jameela Nishat while speaking about the mindset of people working at counseling centres. She adds that a woman who has been harassed must be counseled about laws, but it doesn’t happen as the ‘family’ is respected more.
Explaining the reason for the complaints of the victims against the police south zone DCP V. Satyanarayana said, “In cases where if convicted the maximum sentence is seven years we have to give station-bail to the accused. Due to this the victims are not satisfied and the accused take advantage of this. While the case is on in court, which takes a minimum of 2-3 years, the woman suffers a lot.”
Mr Satyanarayana added, “We are analysing the circumstances and factors leading to these women not coming forward. If the victims are not satisfied with SHOs or the enforcing authorities they should approach higher officials.”
