This Article is From Jul 26, 2010

Nine women who paraded dalit girl naked get bail

Mumbai: A special court on Monday granted bail to ten persons arrested under the Prevention of Atrocities Act for stripping and parading naked a 22-year-old Dalit girl at Sewree in south Mumbai.

Additional sessions Judge C K Bhedi, hearing matters relating to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, today granted the ten arrested accused bail on a bond of Rs 3,000 each after the police said they would soon be filing a chargesheet in the case.

According to the police, on June 17 a group of 25 to 30 women forcibly entered the victim's house in the bylanes of Mira Dargah street of Sewree and dragged her out on to the streets after tearing her gown.

The incident took place after the girl's brother Vijay Kamble was picked up in a rape case of a minor in the area.

The mob, according to the girl, attacked her under the pretext of teaching a lesson to their family.

However, the girl, in her complaint to the police, has said her family has been facing the wrath of the women who are from upper class.

"They have been abusing us by making casteist remarks. They would not allow us to draw water from the community water pump installed in the area. Even on the day they attacked me, the women kept screaming that we 'Harijans' and should not stay here."

Apart from the Prevention of Atrocities Act, the ten accused, nine of whom are women, have also been booked for unlawful assembly, rioting, outraging the modesty of a woman.
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