Chopra Case: Victims and Survivors Silenced

Trigger Warning: This article contains references to violence and suicide. Please avoid reading if you feel distressed by these subjects.

Historical Context: The Chopra case is a recent example of the ongoing issue of mob violence and extrajudicial punishments in India. Historically, such incidents have been prevalent in various parts of the country, often fueled by socio-political tensions and a lack of faith in the formal judicial system. The West Bengal (Prevention of Lynching) Bill, 2019, was introduced to curb such incidents, but it has yet to receive the Governor’s assent. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which recently replaced the Indian Penal Code, has introduced stricter penalties for mob lynching, including capital punishment.

Article:

Rubina (name changed), visibly distressed, sits in a dimly lit room with a corrugated ceiling and red walls. She nervously clasps her hands and moves her feet as a television journalist repeatedly asks her to identify her aggressor. The incident, allegedly involving local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Tajmul Islam alias JCB, took place at a kangaroo court in Chopra block, Uttar Dinajpur district, West Bengal, in late June.

A viral video showed Rubina and a man, Rafiq (name changed), being brutally beaten in a market in Chopra. The crowd, mostly men, watched without intervening. The duo, allegedly in an extramarital relationship, lay helpless on the street.

In Fulbari, Jalpaiguri district, about 50 km north of Chopra, Sabita Barman, 38, allegedly took her life on June 29. She had been in a relationship outside her marriage and was beaten by locals when she tried to return home with her husband, Tapas Barman. Four people, including a couple associated with the ruling TMC, have been arrested for abetment to suicide.

Rubina and Sabita have been silenced by kangaroo courts, with fear and guilt deeply affecting their lives. Days after the incident, Rubina refuses to talk about the violence. Despite the arrest of the accused, she remains silent, even when asked if she required medical help. She had earlier refused to meet Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, who respected her wish to be left alone.

The village in Chopra remains tense, with residents unwilling to discuss the incident. A large police contingent is posted at the local market. The region, close to the India-Bangladesh border, has witnessed political violence, including the killing of a Communist Party of India (Marxist) worker during the panchayat polls last year.

The incident has drawn comparisons to alleged atrocities in Sandeshkhali, where a local TMC leader was accused of torture and sexual assault. However, unlike Sandeshkhali, no one in Chopra is willing to stand by the victims or protest against the kangaroo court.

The Islampur police district lodged a suo motu case and arrested Islam, who faces multiple charges, including attempt to murder. Islam has a history of holding kangaroo courts and torturing couples for alleged extramarital relations.

In Bakhravita village, near New Jalpaiguri railway station, Sabita’s family and neighbors are more willing to speak out. They believe that neighbors should involve the police if they suspect wrongdoing, rather than taking the law into their own hands.

Incidents of mob violence are not limited to Chopra and Islampur; they have been reported across the state. The common thread is that the victims are often poor. Recent cases include the beating to death of Irshad Alam in Kolkata and Prasen Mondal in Bidhannagar, both on suspicion of mobile theft.

The state government has announced compensation for victims of lynching and jobs for their family members. The West Bengal (Prevention of Lynching) Bill, 2019, which includes compensation for victims and the death penalty for offenders, has been awaiting the Governor’s assent since August 2019.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has introduced capital punishment for mob lynching, apart from imprisonment. Experts believe that stronger laws alone cannot tackle the issue; mass counseling and community awareness are also needed.

Despite the stigma and hostility, Rafiq and Rubina continue to live together in Chopra. “We cannot think and plan much when it comes to love,” Rubina says.

Summary:

• Rubina and Rafiq were brutally beaten in Chopra, West Bengal, for alleged extramarital relations.
• Sabita Barman took her life after being beaten by locals in Fulbari, Jalpaiguri district.
• Four people, including a couple associated with TMC, were arrested for abetment to suicide.
• The region has a history of political violence and mob justice.
• The West Bengal (Prevention of Lynching) Bill, 2019, is pending Governor’s assent.
• The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita introduces capital punishment for mob lynching.
• State government announced compensation and jobs for lynching victims’ families.
• Experts call for mass counseling and community awareness to tackle mob violence.