In Satyagraha village, HIV+ woman is killed

After the Dandi March, the salt works in this village had seen one of the most significant moments in Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha movem...

After the Dandi March, the salt works in this village had seen one of the most significant moments in Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha movement against the British.

But after Monday, Dharasana will also pass down in history as the village where an HIV-positive woman was ostracised, beaten up and murdered—by her own relatives, according to a police complaint.

Sumitra Patel, 37, was found lying in a pool of blood in a hut on her father’s farm, on the outskirts of Dharasana village. She had been living there for the last 20 days, ever since she was thrown out by relatives, separated from her 13-year-old son.

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Sumitra’s father Hari Patel blames his younger brother Ballu and his son Anil for the murder, saying they had harassed her ‘‘mentally and physically once they found out she was HIV-positive’’.

Sumitra’s husband died of AIDS in 2003, and she was diagnosed as HIV-positive in August 2004. Soon after that, Sumitra and her son came to stay with Patel, and had been living in the village till her relatives and other villagers found out she was HIV-positive and forced her to move to a hut on the outskirts of Dharasana.

The Dongri police have registered a complaint under section 302 of the IPC, and detained Ballu and Anil. ‘‘Her assailants had hit Sumitra on the head with a sharp weapon, killing her on the spot,’’ police said.

‘‘Ballu is my neighbour. Two days ago, Sumitra came to visit us and she also met Anil’s children and interacted with them. When they found out about this, they beat her up and threatened to kill her if she was seen in the village again,’’ a distraught Hari Patel said.

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‘‘Ever since she was told to leave, my daughter had begun living at my farm. I used to visit her daily to give her food. On Monday morning, I was informed that my daughter had been murdered. I rushed to the farm to see my child in a pool of blood. My brother and his son killed her. They feared she would pass on AIDS to their children,’’ he added.

Police officers said they suspect the relatives. ‘‘Ballu and Anil have admitted to having threatened her with death if she entered the village again,’’ said an official.

Villagers like Batuk Patel admit they were afraid of Sumitra but didn’t want her killed. ‘‘We were happy when she left but did not expect anyone to kill her,’’ Batuk said.