Demonstration held at Gandhi Square to condemn ‘honour killing’ in Dharwad and violence against women

Representatives of various organisations held a demonstration near Gandhi Square in Mysuru to condemn the recent killing of a pregnant woman by her father over her inter-caste marriage in Dharwad and the growing instances of violence against women.

The participants in the demonstration wore black arm bands to register their protest against the killings taking place in the name of “family honour”.

Karnataka Mahila Dourjanya Virodhi Okkoota, Mysuru, in a statement, said various organisations that participated in the organizations were unanimously demanding that the Government conduct fair and thorough investigations into all cases of violence against women and ensure justice for the survivors, the aggrieved and the deceased.

The organizations that participated in the demonstration included Samata Vedike, Samata Study Centre, All India Democratic Women’s Association, Dhwani Mahila Okkuta, All India Progressive Women’s Association, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Odanadi, left parties and progressive organizations and other individuals.

The Okkuta, in the statement, expressed concern over the steadily increasing incidents of violence against women in the state and different parts of the country.

“Cases of rape are continuously making headlines. Dowry deaths, sexual assault on minor girls, gang rapes, and other forms of sexual violence are being reported from schools, hostels, and even religious and spiritual institutions. As a result of deeply entrenched patriarchal values in society, it has become difficult for women to even marry a person of their choice. In the name of so-called “family honour,” parents themselves are committing the brutal act of killing their daughters, a cruelty that has sadly become common”, the statement said.

The Okkuta also recalled the brutal rape and murder of a nine-year-old nomadic girl, who was selling balloons, near the Dasara Exhibition Grounds in Mysuru recently. “It is deeply unfortunate that, barring women’s organisations and progressive-minded individuals, the society at large has remained passively silent in the face of these injustices”, the statement said.

EoM