Horror at Home
News Kashmir Exclusive
The monster of domestic violence against women in Kashmir has been constantly growing over the past few decades in entire valley of Kashmir. In past few years, even the Urban Police Stations have registered hundreds of cases of domestic violence showing the grim nature of the issue. Sometime back the Data compiled by the Jammu & Kashmir Police Crime Branch revealed that in the past two years, it had registered over 4,000 cases of crimes against women.
In a latest unfortunate case it is learnt that Mehnaz Siddiqui came to Kashmir from Karachi, Pakistan, in July 2009 when she married Abdullah Danish Shervani, whom she met on social networking site Orkut. She was 25 at the time. Nine years later, she has publicly alleged that her Kashmiri husband has “assaulted and tortured” her, since right after marriage.
The said case has generated serious debate in Kashmir in both online and real world. On the larger paradigm the issue of domestic violence has remained a serious issue in our part of the world.
The Former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented Nari Shakti Puruskars for the year 2015 at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan (March 8, 2016) on the occasion of International Women’s Day had aptly highlighted the grave nature of this serious issue.
Speaking on the occasion, the former President had said we must remind ourselves most emphatically and as often as we can, that every member of our society male or female has, equally, the right to live in security, peace and dignity. It is intolerable that in this day and age, women are still being exposed to barbaric brutality and violence because they are women. Violence or fear of violence reduces the freedom and development of everyone, particularly our women and children. But more than that, it diminishes our society when it allows such inhuman treatment of its women rather than guarantee their safety, security and equal rights. On this day, let us all, Government, civil society and public at large, pledge to work together for developing relevant legal, administrative and other measures to ensure the safety and security of our mothers and sisters
The expert pulse on the ground is that Women can no longer be driven like cattle; hence they are termed rebellious and responsible for breaking up the family. Women must sacrifice; kill their dignity and ego to save the family, as if men are not part of a family. For patriarchal Muslims women must undertake every obligation, duty and hardship but men should enjoy every right and authority. They stress on shunning such outdated mentality.
Way Ahead
As the number of silent sufferers of Domestic violence goes up, it becomes increasingly difficult to track the problem. Strengthening the Women Commission, increasing awareness in women to resist the menace of domestic violence are the some steps to be taken immediately to wipe out the menace of domestic violence.
The authorities need to act soon and book all the culprits responsible for the monstrous crimes like Domestic violence.
