Pararia mass rape (1988)

In the year 1988 a patrolling party of Bihar Police, which included officers up to the rank of Inspector and also the sub inspector, constable and Chowkidar (village guard) raided the Yadav village of Pararia. It was reported that at least fourteen women aged between thirteen and fifty were gang-raped and the male members of the family were beaten brutally by the perpetrators. Apart from raping, the police party also looted the valuables and jewelry from each house present in the village. The nose rings and other ornaments worn by the women were snatched leaving them bruised. The perpetrators also took away the copper and stainless steel utensil[s]. An old man aged 76 yrs, who was trying to protect his daughter-in-law from being raped was beaten with lathis which was later inserted into his anus.[5] Some of the sources also states that the number of women being raped was as much as nineteen. It was stated by the villagers that the rape was perpetrated in vendetta of assault of a police constable in plain clothes by the villagers few days earlier.[3] India Today reported that the women who were raped gave a scary account of the incident. One of the victim Bhagwatia Devi stated :

the policemen pushed her inside her hut and kicked her one-year-old child into the courtyard. When she cried for the child, the policemen said she could always have another one.[1]

According to another report the number of women raped were five and all of them were admitted to hospital afterwards. The judge presiding over the case booked five police officials for "wrongful confinement" using force and 14 others for mass rape. It was one of the biggest incident of police excesses in Bihar.[6]

The village was facing the fear of migration after the construction of Punasi dam. The inhabitants initially were not in condition to move and stay firmly in the court of law, but some of the women took part in judicial proceedings. Like his predecessors next chief minister, Bhagwat Jha Azad as per India Today took some belated steps to ensure justice but the investigation primarily depended upon the policemen of Bihar Police, who remained ineffective. The Judge presiding over the judicial proceeding concluded by the medical report that one of the victim Nonia Devi was examined and the dead sperm was defected in her vaginal smears. But according to a report, he went by the view of defence lawyer that she has been separated by her husband long ago and the judgement declared her a 'freelancer'. But the investigation by India Today revealed that, she stayed with her husband Moti Yadav.[1] Arthur Bonner relying upon Today report states that, her husband wasn't willing to leave her even after public shame as they had a four year old child and it was not her [his wife] fault that she was raped.[5]

Justice O.P Sinha, the judge presiding over the case was claimed to have given controversial statements in the explaination of his verdict. Today reported Sinha's concluding statements as follows :

"It cannot be ruled out that these ladies might speak falsehood to get a sum of Rs 1,000 which was a huge sum for them." "Radhia Devi has stated that she was thrown on the ground on her back. Two chowkidars caught her legs and hands and three policemen committed rape with (sic) her. It was argued by the defence that such a posture at the time of rape was inconceivable...I also find much weight in the argument.[1][5]

Bhagwat Jha Azad, the chief minister distributed a sum of one thousand to each of the victim and rebuilding operation of their demolished huts began. According to Lora Prabhu and Sara Pilot, the assault and misbehaviour was the policemen was not ruled out but the rape charge was dismissed. Hence, eight policemen and six chowkidars accused of rape were acquitted after one year of imprisonment. Prabhu and Pilot further believes that the Pararia incident was the surest way to defile entire community just as any other incident of sexual assaults during caste and communal riots. Since, women carry the honour of entire community and raping them is the surest way of causing humiliation and shame to entire community.[7]

Ranjit Bhushan, a professor of Jamia Milia Islamia believes the dominance of upper-caste landlords in contemporary Bihar and isolation of villages like Pararia as the reason behind inter caste clashes and vulnerability of women in such places.[8]

It was thought that the Dalits were the victims of this incident but after a visit of officials, it was found that the victims were Yadav women. The incumbent government as reported announced that neither rape had occurred nor any dacoity. Veteran leader George Fernandes recommended the Government to ensure proper relief to the victim families and appoint a special prosecutors to attend court proceedings and suspended all the officials in the region including the sitting Superintendent of police. According to Fernandes, Chief Minister's stand was apathetic but a legislator named Hind Kesari Yadav organised a march of protesters from Pararia to Patna covering a distance of 200 km.[2]

A movie called Rape as assertion of power directed by Sagri Chhabra, portrayed the incident of Pararia on big screen. The theme of the movie revolved around a village, which was to be submerged under water due to major dam project and the villagers were protesting for the compensation. The rape was designed to quell the protest by inflicting public shame on recalcitrant villagers.[9]

• Advancing the Human Rights of Women: Using International Human Rights Standards. Commonwealth Secretariat. 1997. ISBN 0850925150.