On a day meant for prayers and fasting for a man’s safety and long life, a woman herself was left vulnerable and unprotected. In a shocking incident that underscores the grim reality of women’s safety in India, a female police head constable was allegedly raped in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, while on her way home to celebrate Karwa Chauth.
The accused, her neighbor, offered her a lift and instead drove her to an isolated area where the crime occurred. The incident has sent shockwaves across the country, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of laws meant to protect women—even those within the law enforcement system itself.
The Incident: Trust Betrayed
On Saturday, the woman, who is attached to the Reserve Police Lines in Ayodhya, returned to Kanpur to celebrate the Karwa Chauth festival. As she made her way to her village that evening, she accepted a lift from her neighbor, Dharmendra Paswan, assuming the safety that comes with familiarity. However, instead of taking her home, Paswan drove her to an isolated area in the Sen-Paschim Para region. According to Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Harish Chander, “Paswan took the woman to a deserted field and raped her.”
The woman fought back, raising the alarm when Paswan attempted to disrobe her, but there was no one around to hear her cries for help. Ghatampur Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ranjeet Kumar added that the victim managed to bite Paswan’s finger during the assault and somehow fled the scene. She quickly sought help at a nearby police outpost, and an FIR was promptly registered. Within hours, the police had arrested Paswan, preventing his escape.
The case was registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including section 64 (rape), section 76 (criminal force with intent to disrobe), section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), section 117 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt), and section 351(2) (criminal intimidation). Paswan has been remanded in judicial custody for 14 days as investigations continue.
The Larger Picture: Flaws in Women’s Safety and Justice
This incident, while horrific, is not isolated. It reflects a systemic failure in India’s approach to women’s safety, especially in the context of law enforcement. Despite numerous laws and measures, such cases continue to plague the country. Even police personnel, entrusted with upholding the law, are not immune to these heinous acts.
One cannot ignore the resonance of similar cases that have occurred in the past. The RG Kar Medical College rape case in West Bengal and the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case in Bihar are haunting reminders of the inadequacies in both preventive measures and legal consequences.
These incidents point to the deeper issue: the persistence of sexual violence despite legal frameworks and public outcry. In the RG Kar case, a young medical student was raped within the premises of her own college, further proving that even institutions meant to nurture and protect are failing. In Bihar, dozens of girls were abused for years in a government-run shelter home, and while arrests were made, it took years for justice to even be set in motion.
The fact that even a police constable can become a victim speaks volumes about the current state of affairs. Women, regardless of their profession or standing, remain vulnerable. While laws exist on paper, their implementation remains weak, allowing perpetrators to feel emboldened. Cases drag on for years, victims are often blamed, and societal attitudes toward women’s safety remain alarmingly indifferent.
What This Says About Women’s Safety in India
The timing of the Kanpur incident adds another layer of tragedy. Karwa Chauth, a festival during which women fast and pray for the safety and long life of their husbands, is a day steeped in symbolism of protection and devotion. Yet, on this very day, a woman found herself betrayed by a member of the very community she had grown up with. What does this say about the state of women’s safety in India, when not even those who protect us, or the protectors themselves, are safe?
Government measures aimed at improving women’s safety have often been reactive rather than proactive. The introduction of fast-track courts and stricter punishments for rape are positive steps, but they are not enough. The judicial system, overburdened and slow, often fails to deliver timely justice. The absence of effective deterrents and swift consequences for offenders continues to encourage this dangerous culture of impunity.
Despite the 2012 Nirbhaya case bringing worldwide attention to the issue of rape in India, crimes against women have continued at an alarming rate. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 28,000 cases of rape were reported in 2022 alone, a staggering figure that highlights the enormity of the problem. These are only the reported cases—many more go unreported due to fear of stigma or lack of trust in the justice system.
A Need for Stronger Protections and Societal Change For Safer Environment
The rape of a female police head constable in Kanpur is not just a singular crime, but a representation of the deep-rooted challenges women face in India when it comes to safety. Stronger laws, better implementation, and a change in societal attitudes toward women’s safety are imperative. The government, judiciary, and society as a whole must work together to ensure that no woman is left unsafe, especially not on a day when she prays for the safety of others. As long as crimes like these continue, it remains clear that India has a long way to go before women can truly feel protected.