'Surprise visit' rescues woman
MID-DAY (MAY 2002)
By Skimmy Gupta
A surprise visit by members of a women' s welfare committee recently led to the rescue of Zarina Ahmed Khan (25), of Sion-Dharavi, who was allegedly harrassed by her in-laws with whom she was living.
On May 5, Maria Ishwaran, Jancy Simon and Nasima Nafis Khan, of the Mohalla Committee Women' s Cell, paid a visit to Zarina' s residence at Sion Social Nagar, Mohmadi Chawl, Sion-Dharavi, where she was being physically and mentally harrassed by her in-laws.
Earlier, in November 2000, Zarina' s case had been registered with the Bandra cell of the committee. At that time, after several meetings with both Zarina and her in-laws, the two parties had reconciled. However, the entire family had been asked to visit the women' s cell at least once a month, which it never did.
According to Ishwaran, co-ordinator of the women' s cell, " We always make surprise visits to these houses to check if things are fine. So when we went to Zarina' s house, everybody was shocked. Zarina looked both mentally and physically harassed and was in a shabby and ragged condition. She had been confined in a tiny room for many days, without ventilation and food. We then had a discussion with the family and warned them that this behaviour should not occur in the future. They all agreed politely and assured us nothing untoward would happen."
But, according to sources, as soon as the three women left, Zarina was physically assaulted and made to sign a blank paper so that her in-laws could lodge a complaint against the cell. The torture is said to have continued for two days, till it became unbearable. Finally, Zarina escaped on May 7 with her two daughters and contacted the women' s cell.
Zarina said, " I would have died if these women hadn' t come that day. It was only after seeing them that I gathered courage and took this bold step. Now I will surely fight for the rights that I have been sacrificing the last 11 years."
Zarina had been married to Mohammed Ahmed Khan at the age of 14. Since Mohammed' s second marriage, Zarina' s physical, mental and sexual harassment is said to have begun. She is planning to go to the family court to sue for her maintenance.
MID-DAY (MAY 2002)
By Skimmy Gupta
A surprise visit by members of a women' s welfare committee recently led to the rescue of Zarina Ahmed Khan (25), of Sion-Dharavi, who was allegedly harrassed by her in-laws with whom she was living.
On May 5, Maria Ishwaran, Jancy Simon and Nasima Nafis Khan, of the Mohalla Committee Women' s Cell, paid a visit to Zarina' s residence at Sion Social Nagar, Mohmadi Chawl, Sion-Dharavi, where she was being physically and mentally harrassed by her in-laws.
Earlier, in November 2000, Zarina' s case had been registered with the Bandra cell of the committee. At that time, after several meetings with both Zarina and her in-laws, the two parties had reconciled. However, the entire family had been asked to visit the women' s cell at least once a month, which it never did.
According to Ishwaran, co-ordinator of the women' s cell, " We always make surprise visits to these houses to check if things are fine. So when we went to Zarina' s house, everybody was shocked. Zarina looked both mentally and physically harassed and was in a shabby and ragged condition. She had been confined in a tiny room for many days, without ventilation and food. We then had a discussion with the family and warned them that this behaviour should not occur in the future. They all agreed politely and assured us nothing untoward would happen."
But, according to sources, as soon as the three women left, Zarina was physically assaulted and made to sign a blank paper so that her in-laws could lodge a complaint against the cell. The torture is said to have continued for two days, till it became unbearable. Finally, Zarina escaped on May 7 with her two daughters and contacted the women' s cell.
Zarina said, " I would have died if these women hadn' t come that day. It was only after seeing them that I gathered courage and took this bold step. Now I will surely fight for the rights that I have been sacrificing the last 11 years."
Zarina had been married to Mohammed Ahmed Khan at the age of 14. Since Mohammed' s second marriage, Zarina' s physical, mental and sexual harassment is said to have begun. She is planning to go to the family court to sue for her maintenance.
Labels: City
posted by Skimmy @ January 12, 2009
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