City not so safe, says NID girl who wrecked gangrape design

The courageous NID graduate, Anjali Nayar, who put herself at great risk last week to stop the gangrape of a mentally challenged woman, says Ahmedabad is not as safe for women as it is thought to be. “It is undoubtedly much safer than most other cities of the country,” she said, “but I have seen men eve-teasing girls even in Ahmedabad. I have myself been the victim of catcalls.”

Nayar says she wants all women to come together whenever a woman is assaulted, to ensure that the culprits do not go scot-free. “I am filled with anger whenever I think of men who humiliate women and consider it all right to do such things,” she said. “I want women to teach such men a lesson and show the world that women cannot be abused with impunity.”

She said she decided to talk to the press after meeting the authorities and some other people who wanted the case to be taken to its logical conclusion. She said she hoped to reach out to more people through the media. “I don’t want the case to be forgotten and the rapists to go unpunished,” Nayar said. “It is now five days since the incident took place but not a single non-governmental organisation (NGO) has offered to look after the victim or protect her from further humiliation.”

Nayar said the victim did not have a family to which she could turn for protection and help. “She cannot defend herself nor is she in a position to pursue the case on her own,” she said. “I want social activists and NGOs to come forward and fight for justice on her behalf. In the last two days, there have been other instances of helpless women being raped. We should fight for justice for them all.”

Nayar praised the police for being very cooperative. “They were prompt in arriving at the scene of crime,” she said, “and catching the men in the act. But I don’t know whether they will continue to show the same efficiency in pursuing the case. The investigation should be completed swiftly so that the culprits can be punished.”