The victim’s ordeal began in 1994 when she was 12 years old and was raped by two siblings. As a result of the assault, she gave birth to a son, but fearing social stigma, her parents forced her to give the baby up.
For a long time, her life was marked by fear and trauma, with even the mention of the city where the incident occurred triggering anxiety and panic attacks. However, her son tracked her down years later and encouraged her to report the crime to the police.
On Wednesday, a Shahjahanpur court sentenced the two rapists to 10 years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs. 30,000 each. The victim expressed hope that this marked the end of a “long, dark chapter” in her life.
While this verdict may bring some closure to the victim, it highlights the limitations of justice in this case. A fine of Rs. 30,000 seems hardly sufficient for the gravity of the crime, and the delayed justice-nearly 30 years after the crime-raises many questions.
Can the trauma and suffering endured by the victim over decades be adequately addressed by a 10-year-long sentence for the perpetrators?
