Rape victim being forced to drop case

Hyderabad: The family of a rape accused is threatening the victim to withdraw the case, according to rights activists. They will kill the girl if she does not commit suicide, the family is alleged to have said, activist Jaya Vindhyala of People’s Union of Civil Liberties claimed.

According to the FIR registered at the Bhavaninagar police station, Fatima (name changed), the victim, was raped about five years ago. Fearful of a case, the accused promised to marry her. No complaint was filed then.

“After he promised to marry me, I agreed to have a relationship with him. But, in January this year, he started saying that he would marry someone of his parents’ choice, and then marry me after a few years. When I protested, he refused to marry me,” Fatima said, explaining why she filed a case five years after the incident. “Fatima had multiple abortions in the last five years and she developed health complications because of it. The accused was exploiting her vulnerability,,” said an activist, requesting anonymity.

“The police tried to secure a settlement and gave him two days. But his family didn’t budge,” said Fatima. Now, the victim’s family has come under threat from the family of the accused who have influential connections, the activist alleged.

“The victim’s family was earlier forced to vacate their house saying they brought shame on the colony. Her parents are unwell, and the girl is staying with her relatives,” said Ms Jaya Vindhyala of PUCL. Bhavaninagar station house officer B Srinivasa Rao said, “On February 7, a case was registered against the accused under IPC sections 376 (punishment for rape), 417 (punishment for cheating), 420 (cheating), 313 (causing miscarriage without woman’s consent). The accused has been arrested.”

While Fatima still says she wants to marry the accused, activists believe it might not solve her problems.