Author: Baby Maodud
Publication: Daily Jugantor
Date: May 21, 2007
An English Translation
Reader, you haven't forgotten Purnima, have
you? I am talking about Purnima Shil, you know the (Hindu) girl who used to
live in the small village of Purbadulia in Uttarpara, Sirajgunj. Can you recall
the girl who was an A student in the Ulapara Hamida Pilot High School? That's
right, she was working as a volunteer for an 'Awami League' party candidate
on October 1st, 2001. And what a crime it was? Do you remember October 8th,
only a week after the election? As the day fell, a group of 'Terrorists' (*1)
set upon Purnima's dad, Anil Shil and unleashed a brutal assault on him. They
later set upon Purnima's mum and, two of her siblings and, broke into their
home and took to looting the contents of the Shil household.
Purnima sped towards their neighbour Policeman
Ismail's house to seek help. But Ismail's wife Sufia Begum started verbally
abusing her with profanities- Purnima was thrown out of the house. The terrorists
lay in
wait in front of Ismail's house.
Eight of them grabbed Purnima, picked her
up and carried her off to a nearby farmland and took turns in brutally raping
her. A bunch of feral beasts unleashed a torrent of sexual violence on this
child- the one who cherished a dream, the one who had the brainpower, and
the one who was determined to excel in life. She had seen her parents struggling
for survival, felt the pain and suffering her younger brother and sister were
going through. Purnima was the brave one who wanted to lift the family out
of poverty. And then this! The Shame with The Filth from these beasts threw
a dark blanket over Purnima. (*2)
Reader, you couldn't have forgotten that picture
of Purnima- tears rolling down the cheeks of her small face covered by her
soft little hands. Our conscience woke up on that day of shame, our shame,
as never before. After the incident, Purnima filed legal charges. During her
deposition, she described 'everything' and named all the Terrorists. Then
entered the scene- who else but the newly elected local MP of "Bangladesh
Nationalist Party (BNP)" - he tried to sweep it under the rug. He offered
money to Purnima's dad to have the case withdrawn. But young Purnima showed
her mettle and said, "I have lost everything, I want justice"
We are still waiting for the judgment day.
Reading Purnima's deposition was chilling
as we sensed the unbearable torture consuming Purnima when she spoke.
Purnima gave her deposition before a First
Class Magistrate, Anwar Hossain Howladar. She said, "My name is Purnima
Rani Shil. Last Monday, October 8th, It was around 2.00 -2.30 pm, I went to
Doctor Bablu's house to give private tuition to his daughter & his nephew.
My mum was running a fever. She asked me to come back soon so that I can cook
some food for sending on to my brothers. On my way back I heard Altaf mocking
me. "Are you going to cook something for me"? I was scared, didn't
answer him back, and hurried back home. It would have been about 4.00 -4.15
pm. After that I cooked some rice and fish, and asked my dad to take it to
my brothers. It was 6.0- 6.30 pm by then- there was no electricity at that
time. Dad left home with the food and took a flashlight with him. After he
went a short distance, 'they' started beating my dad near the Policeman Ismail's
house. We have never seen any one beating our dad before. My brother Gopal
came running to tell us that my dad was being badly roughed up."
"He asked my mum to have some money on
her to pay for any medical treatment needed for my dad. When my mum &
my brother asked me to accompany them, I told mum that I have homework to
do for the school. She said it wouldn't be safe for me to stay alone because
'they' can strike anytime. So we left home together. The electricity was now
back. As we came near Policeman Ismail's house, 'they' set upon us. I received
six blows to my back. My mum got a vicious beating. After receiving a couple
of blows, my brother fled. After the beating, I escaped and hid behind the
row of banana trees in Policeman Ismail's house. 'They' started looking for
me with a flashlight. Sensing more trouble, I ran to Sufia, Policeman Ismail's
wife, and I cried, "Save me, sister, please save me." Sister Sufia,
shouted back at me, 'You are a bad girl, why are you here, get out of my house'.
Kismet was watching TV at the time. I urged Kismet, 'Brother Kismet, please
save me.' Kismet got hold of me only to shove me out of the house towards
'them'."
"Immediately 'they' grabbed me on the
other side of the street. The lights were turned off in Ismail's house at
that time. But I knew 'their' voices- the voices of Altaf, Jalil, Mannan,
Malek, and Hayven. 'They' lifted me up and carried me off on 'their' arms
towards Hatkhola in Purbadulia. Then 'they' dropped me on a farmland flat,
next to a
vegetable plot. Almost 12 to 13 of 'them'
pressed my body down as Jalil & Altaf begun raping me. I could see the
criminals in the flashlight 'they' were then using. That aside, I knew 'them'
all - 'they' all lived in my neighbourhood. Altaf, Jalil, Mannan, Malek, Litton,
Rezaul, Rauf, Hayven, Majnu, Asif, Momin, another Altaf, Bablu, Jaharul, Hossain,
Yashin, Abdul & a few more - 'they' were all there at the time. When they
first grabbed me & then abducted me, I had started screaming but they
soon pressed my mouth shut. They choked me on the throat. " "Fazal's
son Altaf took out the gold ring from my finger. I do not know who took out
the silver bangles from my arms. It was some time later when Sadhan, Asim
and Akbar Member arrived at the scene and rescued me.
At the time when 'they' were taking me away,
my younger sister came out of the house running towards us; Malek & Mannan
beat her up." "I am due to take my S.S.C. exams from Hamida Pilot
High School. My dad knew very little about this whole incident up until the
point I was preparing to come here for my deposition. My father was taken
ill and I was sick, too. I was under Doctor Dilip's treatment. When my father
heard about the incident, he tried to dissuade me from coming here and to
think about the family honour and the consequences that may harm our family.
But why shouldn't I come? I have lost every thing. I want justice."
I met with Purnima and her mother a few days
back. The family is living in great distress. They look battered, bruised.
They cannot live in their ancestral village because of the harassment and
the threats. The legal case has still not recommenced. Every bit of vegetable,
fruit, bamboo shoot and the rest are stolen from their land and, yet the Shil
family cannot live in their own home. This is something! More than one can
cope with.
The Shils have managed to find a shelter in
the town of Ulapara. Purnima's older brothers now work from a makeshift barbershop
(*3) on the sidewalk. There seems to be little security and peace in sight.
Purnima's older sisters work as part-time maid in some households that buy
them one square meal a day (*4). The family has become a target in the community
due to the gang rape perpetrated on Purnima (*4). In the meantime, Purnima
has passed her secondary & higher secondary education board exams, and
is now studying at a technical institute. She is looking forward to earning
a degree. This would qualify her for higher studies in Digital Technology
leading to a professional career. So far Purnima has been receiving assistance
from some local and international human rights organizations. She receives
a bursary from Bangabandhu Memorial Trust. "I couldn't have survived
without these help." She uttered those words with a lot of belief in
her own self but one can feel that a sharp pain is still hurting her inside.
A metallic still surfaced on her face, "Why
shouldn't I get justice? Why (because of me) my family has to live this sub
human existence? What is their crime? Why can't they live in their own house?
Why shouldn't those criminals receive their due punishment? My life has been
ruined, but I want my family members to live in peace, and without fear. This
is my appeal, this is what I want."
No doubt such words from Purnima are bound
to touch everyone. One suspects that during the time of BNP & Jamat, the
legal case was suppressed due to directives received from their coalition
Government. Because of powerful local interests, the police was pressured
into taking no action against the criminals. As a result, the case is still
unresolved. The accused criminals move about with impunity, issuing threats,
and intimidating Purnima's family members.
When a female member of any family is preyed
upon and become a victim of rapists, the family tends to face isolation and
further suffering in the community. On top of that if there is no legal justice,
it becomes practically impossible to exist in the community (*5).
On January12th, 2007, the Chief Administrator,
Dr Fakruddin Ahmed, delivered his address to the Nation- he said that his
administration would take drastic measures against those who commit crimes
against women. In this context, he further asked for the joint & effective
actions from the State and the affected communities. We want to see Purnima's
face lighten up a little. We know, the inhumane torture & pain she has
suffered would haunt her for the rest of her life, but are we so helpless
ourselves that we cannot even bring a ray of hope and a touch of comfort in
Purnima's life?
Notes:
(1) "Terrorists" or "Santrasees" in 'Bengali' are people
who terrorise their local community targets (especially minorities) and commit
atrocities on them including killing, maiming, raping, ransacking or destroying
their properties or temples
(2) As if, "Purnima", the night
of the full moon, was turned into 'Amabassya', the dark Moonless night.)
(3) Any permanent structure to work from is
raided and demolished by the terrorists.
(4) Purnima's brother in law has deserted
her sister and her two kids. And to heighten the tragedy & injustice,
Purnima's dad has died recently.
(5) Most 'individual female rape victims'
or 'group rape' victims and their families fear further retribution at the
hands of the terrorists and refrain from bringing charges against them. For
instance, there has been no justice for the 200 gang raped in a single night
in Char fashion, Bhola (Nov 2001 Daily Star- "The night of the lost nose
pins".) And it would be interesting to see how long it takes in a more
recent case- for the family of teenager Barnali Ghosh, a student, to get justice
http://hrcbmdfw.org/blogs/khulna_division_news/archive/2007/08/09/740.aspx
On Barnali Ghosh (Daily Amar Desh 13 July
07)
