Baby Nirbhaya Was Raped and Assaulted. You Can Help Her
Disgusting stories like this are unfortunately becoming all too common in our country.
A seven-year-old girl, whom we shall call Baby Nirbhaya, was allegedly raped by a 22-year-old man in New Delhi on the night of Sept. 17, with a horrific FIR stating that a water pipe was forcibly thrust in her genital area, leaving her grievously bleeding.
As the girl, sobbing incessantly, tried walking down home later, she was spotted by a relative who was already looking for her. The man told cops that the girl was bleeding and as soon as she saw him, she collapsed in his arms and fell unconscious. The man was horrified to see her in such a condition and immediately informed her worried mother, a labourer and a single parent.
The girl, who underwent a surgery on the following day, is recovering.
A doctor from the GTB hospital, where Baby Nirbhaya was admitted, said she had complex injuries in her private parts and even bite marks in the surrounding area.
“She had to be operated upon immediately. She’s stable but her injuries are grievous and complex,” the doctor said.
The girl also had head injuries, the doctor said. “She was beaten with a blunt object. There are severe injuries to the,” the doctor said.
The accused, a ragpicker, has now been arrested.
Police said that the attack took place between 7.30pm and 8.30pm when the girl had stepped out to play with her friends. Police have found that the accused lured the girl with a promise to buy her an ice cream and took her to the park, where he raped her.
Hours after the rape, the accused’s family said that while they’re not sure if he is guilty, he should be punished if he is. His mother said: “The girl should get justice… I too have daughters and I can feel the pain.” The accused’s wife, who is pregnant, said, “We used to argue over his alcoholism, but I can’t believe he would do this. Police should bring justice to the girl.”
Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal on Sept. 18 visited the child.
She tweeted: “Cannot describe the pain the little girl was experiencing. Already malnourished, she has a long struggle ahead. We are going to support her in her legal fight to ensure death penalty to her culprits. Will file compensation application & shall make all efforts to rehabilitate her.”
The specter of assault looms large for India’s future, those who are incidentally, the most vulnerable.
Sickening statistics
According to data compiled by the Delhi Police, more than two children were raped every day in the national capital during the first four months of 2018.
Till April 30, 282 cases of child rape were reported as opposed to 278 last year. In 2017, 894 such cases were reported in the national capital.
Politicians and civic leaders for years have struggled to find a cause and a solution to what has become known as India’s rape crisis. Are patriarchal attitudes toward sex to blame? Or the impunity for perpetrators? Proposed solutions run from vigilantism to the death penalty.
Bharti Ali, co-director of Haq Centre for Child Rights, in an interview with the Washington Post said responses to rape often reinforce existing attitudes about how women need to be protected.
“Every time we talk about rape, we only talk among women,” she said. “We need to involve men and boys, and talk to them about sexual violence and gender-based violence as well.”
How Ketto is helping Baby Nirbhaya
Ketto recognizes that children are the future of India and has consequently been a strong proponent of ensuring that the most vulnerable segment of society is protected and nurtured. Please click on the link below and help support our efforts to help Baby Nirbhaya, the latest victim of child rape and assault.
Ketto Blog remains committed to inspiring and compelling social change to India’s most pressing problems through the power of great stories and engaging our audiences to take meaningful action.
