The pursuit of justice in India’s rape cases has become a cruel irony. Instead of protection, survivors face intimidation. Instead of accountability, they encounter barriers at every turn—even from the very institutions meant to protect them.
The Unnao Case: Silencing Survivors
The recent detention of the Unnao gang-rape survivor at India Gate exemplifies this systemic failure. She was detained by Delhi Police for protesting the bail granted to Kuldeep Sengar, a former BJP MLA accused in her case.
What should have been a victim’s right to seek justice became criminalized. Rather than investigating the serious allegations against Sengar or ensuring the survivor’s safety, authorities chose to silence her dissent.
A Pattern, Not an Exception
This incident is not isolated. The filing of an FIR (First Information Report) against those who organized a candle march for the Hathras victim reveals a troubling pattern: the state’s response to gender violence activism is not accountability—it’s suppression.
When survivors and advocates are treated as threats instead of witnesses seeking justice, the message is clear: the system is designed to protect the accused, not the violated.
What This Means
The detention and criminalization of survivors send a chilling message:
- Speak out, and face consequences. Survivors learn that seeking public attention to their cases invites police action against them, not the accused.
- Justice is conditional. While bail is granted to alleged perpetrators, those demanding accountability face detention.
- Institutional failure is normalized. Police resources are deployed to silence dissent rather than investigate crimes.
The Way Forward
India’s justice system cannot claim legitimacy while silencing the very people it should protect. True justice requires:
- Accountability for police actions that obstruct justice
- Genuine protections for survivors and witnesses
- Swift and fair trials for the accused
- An end to using state machinery to suppress legitimate protest
The question isn’t whether we can afford to listen to rape survivors. It’s whether we can afford not to.
This reflects the experiences of survivors within India’s justice system and calls for systemic reform to ensure genuine access to justice.
