Araria Gang-Rape Survivor Granted Bail by CJM

                  	
Araria Gang-Rape Survivor Granted Bail by CJM

July 18, 2020
Anjana Gopinath
The 22-year-old alleged gangrape survivor from Bihar, who was sent to jail on charges of obstructing proceedings of the court, was granted bail on Friday, 17th of July, as informed by Jan Jagrati Shakti Sangathan (JJSS), the social organization which has been taking care of her since the unfortunate incident. The Araria-based organization has stated that the order was passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate through a special hearing, which was an exception made for the present case even in the midst of the lockdown in the State. The JJSS however, expressed their dissatisfaction over the denial of bail to the workers who were also sent to jail.
The girl was allegedly raped in Araria by four men on the 6th of July, while she was out with a friend, who fled as soon as the accused persons attacked the former. She was found by workers of the JJSS, who took her home at first but decided to take care of her after noticing the unsympathetic reaction of her family members. An FIR was filed at the Mahila Thana in Araraia, following which she appeared before the Magistrate, accompanied by the JJSS workers.
The victim upon being asked by the Magistrate to sign her statement, allegedly insisted that one of the activists first read it out to her. Shortly, the JJSS workers also approached the court requesting for a copy of the recorded statement. This request was turned down, with the Police stating that no one can accompany a complainant during the recording of a statement before the magistrate. The Magistrate who was upset over the commotion, directed a court staff to lodge an FIR against the girl as well as the JJSS workers for contempt of court and obstructing a public servant from discharge of duty. All three women were remanded to judicial custody and were lodged in a jail in Samastipur district, located around 225 km away from Araria.
The JJSS, in their statement, expressed that they have full faith in the judicial system and that they will continue to move forward with all remedies available for the release of the two members of the organization.