Cuttack gang-rape case: Police should maintain confidentiality, protect identity of survivors, says social activist

Amidst the rising cases of rapes and gang rapes, social activist Namrata Chadha emphasised the importance of police maintaining confidentiality and protecting the identity of the survivors so that more rape survivors muster the courage to approach the police.

Her statements come in the wake of the gang-rape of a College girl in Cuttack who was allegedly blackmailed by her boyfriend and his friends. While the girl had gone on a birthday celebration, the accused without her consent shot her obscene video and used it to blackmail and subsequently gang-rape her. 

“The heinous crime is highly shameful and condemnable. The girl was being blackmailed and pressured by the six accused. We should salute the girl because she finally mustered courage. But, most victims fear to go to the police. They need confidentiality and assurance that their identity will not be revealed and she would be safe both from the accused and the societal shame,” stated social activist Namrata Chadha.

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“If the identity of the girl is revealed, then no girl will have the courage to go to the police and lodge an FIR. First and foremost, the police should maintain confidentiality. They are doing a great job, but they should focus on gaining the trust of the survivors,” she added.

She also called for men to educate themselves on the importance of consent and respect women’s boundaries. Furthermore, she appealed to all the young girls to make wiser choices while being friends with any boy/man.

“Young girls these days also make different types of videos and take pictures. However, they must ensure that the boys they are going out with or being friends have no evil intentions or would misuse their pictures and videos. Technology is so advanced that people can misuse pictures and videos. So, everyone has to be very careful, and sensible,” she added.