Youngsters stage anti-rape theatre near Howrah station

A group of young professionals from different fields today gathered near the busy Howrah station and enacted a ten-minute 'nukkad natak' (street play) to highlight the legal and social repercussions one has to face after committing atrocities against women.
Protesting against the increasing number of rape cases being reported from throughout the country, the team of eleven amateur theatre artists under the youth forum 'Together We Can' portrayed how women are vulnerable not only on the streets but also at homes and inside offices.
"We are just trying to raise awareness about basic fundamental rights of women and the repercussions faced by the man and his family, who commits heinous crimes like rape, molestation, etc," advocate Amit Agarwal, who also acted in the play, told PTI.

It showed the pain which the family of the accused goes through once he is caught by the police.
Young businessman Sumit Bhatt said that they are asking people to report such cases to the police and take a stand to support women in distress.
A similar street theatre was also conducted outside Avani Riverside Mall in Howrah.

Using theatre as a medium to communicate a social cause to the masses, the play spread awareness about basic fundamental rights of women and her role in the society.
The youngsters also highlighted various legal facts relating to punishments for crime against women under various laws of our country.

According to the data of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), West Bengal has the dubious distinction of having the highest incidence of crime against women for the second consecutive year in 2012.
Out of a total 30,492 cases of crimes against women, more than 2000 instances of rapes were reported from the state last year.