5,000 women protest against security forces in Jhargram

Panic gripped Jhargram town on Tuesday when over 5,000 women from the rural areas entered the town from different directions under the banner of Nari Ijjat Bacaho Committee...

Panic gripped Jhargram town on Tuesday when over 5,000 women from the rural areas entered the town from different directions under the banner of Nari Ijjat Bacaho Committee a new outfit launched in the tribal in the region after allegations of torture on women by police and security personnel.

The local administration suspect that the womens group is being backed by the Maoists. According to the police,at least ten rallies,each rally comprising more than a thousand women entered the city. Those taking part in the rally were carrying banners and posters critical of security force.

Sources said that though the district administration had information of such rally before hand,it did not apprehend that women will enter the town from different directions. The groups marching into Jhargram from Pukuria and Radhanagar were big.

The police stopped women at Jhargram Rajbar and it is alleged that they also resorted to lathicharge. Hundreds of women from Pukurai reached the office of SDO Jhargram but there the police didnt apply any force on them. Mukesh Kumar,Additional SP of Jhargram,said the police listened to their allegations and after which they decided to return to their homes. No untoward incident took place,but the situation was tense,said Kumar.

Meanwhile,the new womens outfit alleged that the police and security forces continue to torture them while conducting raids. Earlier,residents of Sonamukhi village had lodged a complaint with the police alleging that six women were raped by the security forces. The medical tests,however,found that they were not raped.

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Kolkata