TURA, June 1: For 38-year-old Hassan, filing a complaint with the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) has been a life-changer for the worse.
After learning about the abuse suffered by his elder sister at the hands of their own brother and sister-in-law at their house in Tura, he just could not take things lying down anymore.
On the night of May 3, when he finally got confirmation of the treatment suffered by his elder sister, he hoped his actions would help change her life for the better.
Taking pains to pen down every thought in the email he sent to the MSCW (copies of which were sent to the NHRC among others), he finished the email and forwarded it to the Commission in hopes that she would be rescued. His work was completed only by the next day at about 1:30 pm.
The next morning he got a call from the Tura Police Station informing him that his sister had been rescued with the Tura Women’s PS asking him to come to Tura from where he was presently to take responsibility for his elder sister. He reached Tura on May 6 and his nightmare began immediately after.
Hassan’s elder sister is mentally challenged, a fact known by their neighbours, his brother and his wife as well as his other relatives.
“The moment we reached the Tura PS, I immediately felt something was wrong as my brother and his wife, who regularly beat up my sister were also there but the police began to question us instead of taking action against her abusers,” related Hassan when he met this correspondent.
The history of abuse began way back, as per Hassan, though he only became aware of the situation a few years ago. Knowing the fact that he would need to prove the matter to whomever he discussed with, he began to collect evidence against the abusers of his sister.
“As she is mentally challenged, I took her to NIMHANS in Bangalore, where I was then working in 2019. I have lived most of my life there and when we went to the hospital the doctor informed us that she had heart problems. The problem was due to an external injury. I was surprised as my sister didn’t even leave the house. Taking time, I asked her about what happened but she was unable to inform me much on her situation,” he said.
“When I informed my elder brother, he immediately asked for her to be sent back to Tura despite the fact that she was on medication. He assured me that he would be taken care of. I sent her back with enough medication for about 2 months,” he added.
Suspecting something was amiss, he longed to be back home so that he could speak to his sister and understand the situation for himself. However, despite the torture being suffered by his sister at the hands of their brother’s wife, none dared to complain as the brother apparently is a very powerful man.
“There was the question of social stigma as well as facing the police and the Court. Going by my own personal experience at the hands of the Tura Women’s PS, I would not fault them,” said Hassan.
The atmosphere in the PS became such that the victims (Hassan and his sister) were being treated as the accused while tea and snacks were being brought to the elder brother. All this went on while they were being forced to do countless rounds of the PS itself.
“We were abused and shouted at. They asked how we could complain against our own brother. They even shouted at my sister and tried to force her to say she was not mentally challenged. The harassment did not stop there,” he stated.
For the next 8 days, Hassan and his sister were constantly being asked to come to the Tura PS for statements despite the fact that the sister is a person with disabilities (PWD).
During the medicals, the doctor confirmed his suspicions about abuse even of the sexual kind.
“There were marks all over her body from the beatings and swellings everywhere. An abortion had also been performed on her, which I suspect could have been someone from the Tura house where she lived then. They, however, were not willing to provide us any medical report and I have no clue as to what they entered into the records. I suspect it will not be good news to us,” remarked Hassan.
“She was brought to the PS from the welfare home on some pretext or the other without the consent of anyone at the centre and without any counselor being present. They brought her to the PS for at least 6 days this way and continued to harass, abuse and make her and me as uncomfortable about fighting the case. My brother was of course always there when we were being questioned. Is this how you treat victims?” asked an emotional Hassan.
After suffering for 8 days in a similar manner, the police then asked him to compromise the matter and take care of his sister instead.
“They told that it would be difficult as I would have to go to Court with her every time there was a hearing. Instead they asked me to withdraw the FIR and take my sister away. With literally no hope of justice, I relented as if this is how the police treated victims of abuse, I am never getting justice,” he added.
On May 13, he finally withdrew the FIR though he added that he wanted no further harassment for him and his sister at the hands of their elder brother or his wife.
“Most of my family knows my brother as a habitual abuser. His neighbours in Tura are scared of him and his actions. So many of them have been his victims but due to social stigma, they have not dared to come forward,” said Hassan.
His nightmare has still not ended.
“My brother knows where we live and he has been sending people to threaten us on a regular basis despite the assurances from the Tura police. I have had to put up my sister in some other place just to ensure her safety. She is currently recovering and with treatment, definitely will get better,” he added on a positive note.
His sister, in the little words that she could manage, confirmed that she was being beaten regularly while speaking to this correspondent.
As to how the police could not see the pain she suffered is beyond anyone’s understanding.
“Instead of sympathizing with her situation, they just piled it on. She has the mind of a 12-year-old in the body of a 40-year old-woman. While she may not have understood the abuses hurled her way, the body language of the cops still gives her nightmares,” added Hassan.
Recently, Tura police has begun a phase of victim shaming, even for cases of rape and domestic violence.
A rape survivor was similarly abused with the cops insinuating that she was the one responsible for the crime, despite their being an eye witness to the act. As to why such abuse of power is taking place, serious investigations of heinous crimes will surely go unreported only because of the behavior of some police women.
Meanwhile, social activist and president of the Civil Society Women’s Organisation (CSWO), Agnes Kharshiing, has come down heavily on the purported lapses by the police administration in Tura.
“Why were proper procedures not followed and the victim continually brought to the police station? If there was a need to record her statement it should have been done at the welfare centre and with full sympathy towards the victim. Instead the accused was being pampered while a PwD was being harassed. She didn’t even understand what was going on,” said Agnes.
The CSWO president, who has been following the case keenly since it was brought to her notice, has asked for the immediate arrest of the accused (s) in the case as well as action against the erring officers.
“The ambience in the PS has to change to that of welcoming those that come with their grievance and not that of antagonism. Those responsible for turning this into a space of terror should not have space in the police force. Action has to be taken against them,” asserted Agnes.
Meanwhile, upon being informed on the issue, the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills, Swapnil Tembe, said that the matter had been investigated and the findings sent to the MSCW, which has taken cognizance of the case. He, however, did not comment on the behavior of the cops or if any action would be taken against them.
