A report was published in Siasat daily that a village Panchayat in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh has banned love marriages, use of mobile phones by girls when out on roads and women less than 40 years old from going out shopping, the reason they gave is that it increases crimes. It has ordered girls to cover their heads while stepping out of their houses. The Panchayat justified its orders by saying that it is for the safety of girls themselves.
The panchayat decision created hue and cry among the feminist organisations and media. The media had even termed it as ‘Taliban Panchayat’.
But recent horrific incident of molestation of a young woman by a group of about 30 men on Tuesday night at Guwahati has proved that the decision taken by the panchayat was not anti-women but for the very own security and protection of women themselves. Several incidents in the recent past have proved that scantily dressed women or woman venturing out alone in the night are more prone to the crimes such as molestation or eve-teasing.
The Guwahati incident evoked overwhelming response and people demanded justice for women. “What should the public do? Carry guns?” asked Magesh at the twitter. The answer could be strict implementation of laws suggested by the Aasra panchayat.