Araria Gang Rape Surivor given bail, however her primary support persons, Tanmay and Kalyani, denied bail.

A Thread

A survivor of Gang Rape and her two friends and support persons (social workers at Jan Jagarn Shakti Sangathan, JJSS) were sent to jail on 10 July, 2020. A special hearing was called at the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Araria on 17th July to hear the bail petition of the case.

While the survivor was given bail, contrary to all expectations, Kalyani and Tanmay’s bail was rejected. The reasons for this are unclear since Kalyani is booked under similar charges as the survivor, while the charges against Tanmay are unclear. #Justicenotimprisonment

Separating the survivor from her primary support persons will only further put stress on the survivor, because they were among the few people she trusted to stand by her during this difficult time,& the guilt caused by her feeling like the reason her support persons are in jail

To support survivors of sexual violence is a very difficult task within itself. It requires immense personal risk on the side of the activists involved, as well as emotional and physical investment. To imprison them for doing this important and difficult job is a gross injustice.

Placing our faith in the judiciary, we appeal for the immediate release of the friends and support persons of the survivor and the urgent need for the criminal justice system to sensitise on the gender aspect of cases of sexual violence, so that such an ordeal is not repeated.