Two raped while fetching water

Dinesh Manhotra

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 8

As the worst-ever drought conditions in the kandi belt of the Jammu region have forced women to cover long distances to fetch water, they are reportedly being exposed to molestation and eve-teasing en route by anti-social elements.

Although most such cases go unreported due to the social stigma attached, the first case of molestation and rape of two women, who had gone to fetch water from an isolated place in the Gharota area, was registered at the Gharota police station two days back.

“We have registered an FIR under Section 376 after two women reported that they were sexually assaulted by three men when they had gone to fetch water from Dabbar Mehra, which falls under our jurisdiction,” said Rakesh Bhagat, SHO, Gharota.

He said medical examination of the women was conducted and further action would be taken after getting medical report from the hospital. “We are thoroughly investigating the matter. Teams have already been deputed in the village for further probe,” the SHO said.

Dabbar Mehra is a remote village in the Gharota area, where drinking water is luxury these days. Inhabitants of most parts of the Jammu region, especially kandi belt, are confronting acute scarcity of potable water.

Getting a bucket of drinking water for their family is a struggle for most women in kandi belt. The dry water resources have led to acute water scarcity.

Women in kandi belt occasionally come out to fetch water. The prevailing drought conditions have forced families to break the tradition and send women to cover long distances to get a bucket of drinking water.

According to the complaints lodged, two women had gone to fetch water from a source. On the way, they were intercepted by three youths, who allegedly assaulted them sexually.

“Family members of the victims approached the police high-ups the next day and an FIR was registered in this connection,” said the police. The victims were sent to Jammu for medical examination.

Keeping in view the prevailing drought conditions in the entire Jammu province, the authorities had pressed water tanks into service. This service was confined to villages situated on the road side and the conditions were worse in inaccessible hamlets.

Despite huge investment in augmentation of water supply schemes in kandi belt of the Jammu region on paper, many villages are either with scarce water supply or without any source of water. In many rural areas, women still have to walk a distance of about three km to reach the source of water.