Kochi: Recounting her ordeals at the hand of the authorities, the thirty-five year old rape survivor who was shamed by the police into withdrawing her complaint alleged that she was made to wait in the police station for 4 days from morning to evening before her complaint was accepted and that she was introduced to every visitor as the ‘raped woman.’
Speaking to the media in a press conference with her husband, convened with the help of famous dubbing artist Bhagyalakshmi, the survivor’s account, punctuated by sobs and long woeful silences, dwelt much on the harassment she had to undergo at the police station.
“We were treated like dogs. We did not commit any crime, but were made to sit in the station from morning to night,” she said.
Taking over from his wife, who was too distraught to continue, her husband said, “They took us to public places and asked where all they (the alleged rapists) had touched and how they did it. When we went to the police station, the CI asked how you yielded to the rape? Did you show this and that to entice them. On hearing his words, I was completely shattered,” he said.
The mother of two also added that she was forced us to withdraw the complaint after her husband was practically held hostage by the accused, in the car in which they were brought. While withdrawing her complaint in a pool of tears, the magistrate asked whether she was gang-raped, and all she could do was say yes, and still withdraw the complaint.
The couple, who attended the press conference with their face covered, were not able to place the events in sequence or remember the multitude of forms that they had to sign, but remember on thing with certainty, “It happened and it ruined my life. I can always tell this anywhere.”
