State of Madhya Pradesh once again grabbed the headlines, but this time for all the wrong reasons. The criminal attempt to bury two women alive in a village in Rewa district not only sent frisson of shock across the nation but also reverberated with anger and disbelief across the nation. While authorities attribute the incident to a land dispute, yet the gravity of the crime cannot be undermined. The question of violence against women in the State remains urgent, and mere arguments fall short in addressing it.

 

The Opposition has seized upon this issue. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) asserts and alleges that atrocities against women have reached epidemic proportions, fuelled by the support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Seeking insights, ‘The Hitavada’ engaged with a cross-section of society to delve into this distressing matter. Due to political tussle and game, BJP ruled government couldn’t appoint President at State Women’s Commission even after passing of around four years. The Congress Government appointed president but after the formation of Shivraj Singh Chouhan Government, the then president resigned and since then the post is lying vacant. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken a suo motto cognisance of a media report titled ‘Truck dumps gravel on 2 women, tries to bury them alive in Madhya Pradesh’.

 

The incident, a fallout of a land dispute in Hinauta, Rewa district, saw two women nearly buried alive and later rescued by locals. A letter has been sent by Chairperson of the NCW to DGP of the State to demanding detailed report in the matter and an action taken report (ATR) is expected in three days. According to data, Madhya Pradesh stood third in the nation with 3,046 women and girls being raped and gang raped in the State in 2022. Rajasthan is on the top among 28 states with 5,408 cases, followed by Uttar Pradesh which registered 3,692 cases last year. Of course, only the constitution of State Women’s Commission can’t put a full stop alone on such incidents but delay in appointments and ongoing deteriorating situation against women in the state leaves questions before authority. 

 

 

The shocking incident In the incident in which the two ladies were buried in mud over land dispute at Hanota Kothar village, police arrested one accused and launched manhunt for other accused. Case against accused have been registered by and dumper has been seized through which ladies were buried. Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav expressed concern over the incident and directed the district and police administration for immediate action. He stated that State Government’s priority is to safeguard the residents, specially ladies. The accused would not be spared and would be facing strict punishment, he added. The two victim have been discharged from hospital and are recovering at their home. They are still frightened and have demanded security as accused had warned them of dire consequences. Around 60 km away from district headquarters, a land dispute turned murkier when two ladies protesting over road construction on their land were buried partially by the opponents party by dumping mud on them. One lady was buried till neck and other till waist. Locals hurriedly rescued them otherwise they would have died. They rushed to help the victims and dug out mud with shovels.

 

The two ladies who were buried partially, have been identified as Mamta Pandey and Asha Pandey, both are residents of Hinota Kothar village. The two victims informed that the members of other side assaulted their husband and them. They were opposing construction of road on their land. The accused did not stop till there, and started throwing mud on the two ladies from the dumper and attempted to bury them. Police informed that two families were having old dispute over land. The accused family Gokarna Prasad Pandey, Mahendra Prasad Pandey were trying to built road over a land which belongs to victims’ family. Jinesh Pandey and Shivesh Pandey, stopped construction of road on Saturday. Then both sides had heated arguments and thrashed each others.

 

Then after a while when both female were alone then accused Gokarana and Mahendra called dumper driver Rajesh Singh to offload the mud. When two ladies objected they were buried in the heap of mud. The ladies were rushed to hospital and their treatment was started. Police registered case against two accused and one Gokarana Pandey was arrested in the evening. Further, on Monday, Congress party workers staged a massive protest at district headquarters over this incident. Police used water canons to disperse the mob and fired tearshells on the unruly protesters.