India is a country that’s progressing and regressing simultaneously. The upper and upper-middle-class is showing significant growth both financially and intellectually. Women are overpowering the patriarchy that’s woven into our culture and making their own choices. On the other hand, the outskirts of the cities are featuring lynchings based on WhatsApp rumours and ugly rituals that involve prostitution. And that tidal wave of decline has now hit Shahjahanpur.
According to Times of India, Khushbu Devi, a resident of Shahjahanpur was forced to engage in prostitution by her husband. Since she refused, she had to face some bitter consequences.
“After I returned from my sister’s house on Sunday evening, my husband asked me to sell my body and bring him money. I ignored him and went to another room.”
Khushbu and her husband, Ashok Kumar have been married for nine years. They even have two children. However, seeing what he did to Khusbu, none of that mattered to Ashok.
Ashok Kumar not only forced Khusbu to take part in flesh trade, but also punished her for refusing to agree to his sadistic requests.
“When I Woke Up On Monday, My children told me that i fell unconscious shortly after having dinner and that their father and uncle shaved off my head. i had dark, long hair and now i am reluctant to see my own face in the mirror.”
Khusbu went to the police on Monday itself and filed a complaint against her husband and brother-in-law. Nigohi police station SHO, Sunil Sharma said that,
“He has been booked and arrested earlier for manufacturing illicit liquor. based on the woman’s complaint, we registered a case against ashok and his brother.”
The accused was booked on Monday and was arrested and jailed on Tuesday. The charges against Ashok and his brother Manoj were voluntarily causing hurt (IPC section 323), causing hurt by means of poison etc. (IPC section 328) and word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman (IPC section 509).
One of the major problems regarding crimes against women in India is that most of them aren’t reported. So, Khusbu’s decision to not wait and register an FIR against her husband should be hugely lauded. Additionally, thanks to Shahjahanpur police’s prompt action, there are two less hoodlums walking on the streets.