Page 2 - Sexual Assault Against Women

Hema Committee report paves way for #MeToo movement in Mollywood

What was the MeToo movement and how has the Hema Committee report, delayed by five years, reignited the fight against sexual harassment in the film industry

Malayalam director Ranjith, actor Siddique resign over abuse allegations

Noted actor Siddique on Sunday resigned as the general secretary of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (A.M.M.A.) following sexual assault allegations raised by a woman actor on August 24. Talking to a television channel, the senior actor said he had sent his resignation letter to the President of the organisation, Mohanlal. "Yes. I have tendered my official resignation to the president of the organisation, Mohanlal. Since there were allegations against me, I have decided not to continue in the post and resigned," Siddique said. A female actor had on Saturday alleged Siddique had sexually abused her after inviting her for a movie discussion. The allegations came in the wake of the churn in the Malayalam film industry following the release of Justice Hema Committee report, which pointed towards numerous incidents of casting couch and sexual abuse in the field. The report had revealed instances of harassment and exploitation of women in the Malayalam cinema industry, prompti

Sexual offenders should be castrated: Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Amid the outrage over the Badlapur sexual assault incident, Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday said those guilty of offences against women should be castrated. He was speaking at an official program about the Mahayuti government's flagship 'Ladki Bahin' scheme for women at Yavatmal in eastern Maharashtra. The BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government in the state would not spare anyone accused of offences against women, whoever the person may be, and a bill providing for a more stringent punishment in such offences has been forwarded to the President for the assent, he said. "I personally feel that when such perverts lay hand on our mothers-sisters, our daughters, they should face such a legal punishment that they should not think of (repeating the offence) again. To put it in my language, such persons' private organ should be removed....Some people are so vile, that this must be done," Pawar said. Alleged sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a school at Badlapur in

2,144 pages chargesheet filed against Prajwal Revanna in sexual abuse case

Revanna is facing a probe by the SIT over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked as a domestic help at his house

Former Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray calls for Shakti Bill implementation

The Opposition parties had called for a state-wide strike in Maharashtra on August 24 before the Bombay high Court ordered against it

SIT registers FIR against school authorities in Badlapur assault case

The SIT recorded the statements of both the minor victims along their parents, added SIT

Kolkata doc rape-murder: FAIMA continues nationwide halt of OPD services

Apart from that, the resident doctors at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) also decided to continue the ongoing strike

Sexual offences now gender neutral, as BNS introduces key changes

The newly enacted Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which replaces the British-era Indian Penal Code, has made sexual offences "gender neutral" for the victim and the perpetrator, according to official documents. "Both boys and girls could get procured for sexual exploitation. The word 'minor girl' in section 366A of the IPC has been replaced with the word 'child' in clause 96 of the BNS to cover both male and female children below the age of 18 years and the offence of procurement has been made punishable," an explanatory note for the new criminal law said. It said Section 366B in the IPC has been made gender neutral by replacing the phrase "importation of girl from a foreign country" with "importation of girl or boy from a foreign country". It has been introduced as clause 141 in the BNS to cover the offence of importing into India any girl under the age of 21 years or any boy under the age of 18 years with the intent that such person will be forced or seduced to illicit sexual acts with .

14 cops hurt as people throw stones seeking custody of murder accused

At least 14 police personnel were injured after a group of persons allegedly pelted them with stones demanding the custody of a man, who was arrested for sexually assaulting and killing a six-year-old girl at Jamner in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district, police said on Friday. The incident of stone-pelting occurred around 9.30 pm on Thursday outside the Jamner police station, they said. "A six-year-old girl was allegedly abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered at Chinchkheda Shivar village in Jamner on the night of June 11. The accused person had fled away from the spot taking advantage of darkness," an official said. "The police had launched a search for the accused, who was finally arrested on Thursday. But after getting information about his arrest, the deceased girl's family members, their relatives and local residents gathered outside the police station demanding that the accused be handed over to them so that they can punish him for the heinous crime," he said. The people start

Woman kidnap case: SIT carries out searches for Prajwal Revanna's mother

The Special Investigation Team carried out searches at various locations in the last 24 hours looking for Bhavani Revanna, mother of suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, in connection with a woman kidnap case as she was not present at her residence at Holenarasipura in Hassan district, sources said on Sunday. The SIT had issued a notice to Bhavani asking her to be present at home on June 1 as there was a need to question her in the case linked to allegations of sexual abuse against her son. When a team of SIT sleuths reached Bhavani's house, Chennambika Nilaya', she was not present. Two women lawyers reached 'Chennambika Nilaya' on Saturday evening and met the SIT officials. They did not disclose the purpose behind the meeting. It is learnt that Bhavani had communicated through her lawyers that she was unwell and would appear before them shortly. Bhavani's husband and Holenarasipura JD(S) MLA H D Revanna is on bail in the same case. The SIT carried out searches at various locations

Efforts on to bring Revanna back to India, says K'taka Home Minister

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said efforts are on to bring Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexual abuse against women, back to India. He also asserted that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case was functioning efficiently. The 33-year-old Prajwal, who is the grandson of JD(S) patriarch and former PM H D Deve Gowda, is facing charges of multiple instances of sexually abusing women. The scandal has raised a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaged in a slugfest. Prajwal reportedly left for Germany on April 27 and is still at large. He was BJP-JD(S) alliance's candidate from Hassan Lok Sabha segment, which went to polls in the first phase on April 26. "Procedures are on, until we secure him, bring him back here and take action in accordance with law, they will continue. We will neither slow it nor stop it," Parameshwara told reporters on questions about the Interpol's Blue Corner Notice that was issued agai

Why women would prefer to be alone in the woods with a bear over a man

Many women participating in a new viral debate on social media say they would rather be alone with a bear than a man in the woods. Here's why

Prajwal Revanna rape case: SIT announces helpline for sexual abuse victims

The Special Investigation Team probing the alleged sexual harassment of women by Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna has come out with a helpline number for the victims to approach them. SIT chief and Additional Director General of Police B K Singh said in a statement the victims can call 6360938947. Singh said the victims need not have to visit the SIT office as the team would personally approach them to offer them relief. The SIT also warned people at large not to share the videos showing women being sexually assaulted and molested allegedly by Revanna on social media or personal messenger applications. "It is easy to trace people sharing these videos on messenger services, so action will be taken against such individuals," Singh said. He also noted that sharing such videos would damage the reputation and honour of victims. Prajwal is seeking re-election from Hassan as an JD(S)-BJP alliance candidate. The constituency went for polls on April 26. JD(S) joined the BJP-led NDA in Sept

Women flee homes over fear and stigma after Prajwal Revanna video release

Video clips purportedly showing instances of sexual assault by Prajwal Revanna have emerged, prompting several women who are said to be victims to flee their homes

Police abandoned Manipur women to mob that paraded them naked: CBI

Charge sheet filed by federal agency reveals key details of violence that took place on May 3 in Churachandpur district

AIFF member Deepak Sharma held in Goa for assaulting two women footballers

All India Football Federation executive committee member Deepak Sharma was arrested by Goa police on Saturday for allegedly physically assaulting two women players, an official said. Two footballers of Himachal Pradesh-based Khad FC, taking part in the Indian Women's Football (IWL) League second division here, had alleged Sharma, the owner of the club, had barged into their room and physically assaulted them on the night of March 28. "AIFF executive committee member Deepak Sharma was called for questioning during the day after a formal complaint was received. He was arrested by Mapusa police under various sections, including causing hurt, using force against women, among others," Deputy Superintendent of Police Sandesh Chodankar told PTI. "He will remain in custody for the night and will be produced in court on Sunday for remand," said Mapusa police station inspector Shitakant Naik. Meanwhile, GFA President Caetano Fernandes told PTI the association helped the victims file the ...

SC grants bail to children of Delhi govt officer in minor's assault case

The Supreme Court has granted anticipatory bail to the daughter and son of suspended Delhi government officer Premoday Khakha in a case of alleged sexual assault of a minor girl by the arrested official. A bench of Justices CT Ravikumar and Rajesh Bindal granted the relief, noting that the petitioners have joined the investigation. "After going through the statement, and hearing learned counsel on both sides and after perusing the material on record, we are of the view that these Special Leave Petitions can be disposed of, directing the release of the petitioners on bail in the event of their arrest on furnishing a bond of Rs 25,000, subject to the satisfaction of the Investigating Officer and further subject to the conditions stipulated under section 438(2), CrPC," the bench said in an order on Monday. Advocates Shubhashis R Soren and Bhakti Singh appeared for the petitioners. The Delhi High Court on October 11 last year had refused to grant anticipatory bail to the daughter and

Union cabinet gives nod for extension of fast-track special courts: Reports

The Union Cabinet is learnt to have given its nod on Tuesday to extend by three years the continuation of the special fast-track courts that seek to deliver swift justice in cases involving sexual offences. After the passage of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act in 2018 in the aftermath of the "Nirbhaya" gangrape case in Delhi, the Centre had decided to set up 1,023 fast-track special courts (FTSCs), including 389 to deal exclusively with cases related to violations of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, in 31 states and union territories. A government functionary had earlier said despite the Centre's efforts, only 754 of the 1,023 courts were operational. While several states had assured the Centre that they would set up such courts, not many were eventually operationalised. Though the scheme ended on March 31 this year, the law ministry has obtained permission to ensure that the funds continue. On Tuesday, the cabinet gave its nod to extend the scheme by t

CBI takes over probe in case of sexual assault on 2 women by mob in Manipur

The CBI has taken over the investigation in a case of alleged sexual assault on two women by a mob in Manipur in May, officials said on Saturday. A video purportedly shot on May 4, showing the two women being paraded naked, went viral earlier this month, resulting in a massive uproar across the country. The case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a reference from the Union home ministry, the officials said. The CBI has taken over the FIR registered by the Manipur Police against unidentified people in accordance with its procedure.

Woman jumps off Rapido bike after driver tries to grope her in Bengaluru

A woman jumped off a moving motorcycle when the Rapido driver allegedly tried to grope her in Bengaluru, police said on Wednesday