“The Pessimist Sees Difficulty In Every Opportunity. The Optimist Sees Opportunity In Every Difficulty.”

The sad part is that rather than discussing the overall scenario, there is a war of charges and counter allegations. The sense that all sections of society are responsible to improve the system is somehow noticed very feebly. The law will take its own course and there is no doubt that the guilty must be punished as severely as possible, with a prospect of even hanging. But before that happens, his guilt must be established beyond any doubt. Till then, all should permit the wheels of law to operate.

The Badlapur incident has once again reminded us of the vulnerabilities children and women face. There are enough laws, rules and regulations to ensure that in  spaces like schools and colleges, they remain safe. However, such enactments have largely remained on paper. Taking a cue from Badlapur, it is imperative for the government, the opposition, educational institutions and the academic community to team up to guarantee that such horrors do not recur. Consequently, more attention will be needed in semi-urban and rural areas since cities have a relatively better infrastructure to Implement stringent safety measures. As seen in Badlapur and Kolkata, mass action to demand justice can happen in urban areas more effectively. Of course, prompt action in cases of abuse and promoting a culture of female dignity can be some of the steps in the right direction.

The shocking Badlapur school incident has sent alarm signals of a different kind. When a community demands instant justice and speaks of taking the matters into its own hands, the concept of the rule of law is somehow challenged. It is one thing to protest and to raise legitimate questions about the safety of children in educational institutions. However, disrupting public transport and even damaging it can’t be justified in a responsible democratic set up.

Within two days of the incident, shocking revelations have started coming to the fore. It is likely that more details will be available in the course of investigation. It will be the duty of the government and the court of law to weigh the evidence and take appropriate action. Hence, much is not needed to say on this count.

The area of national concern is the sentiments expressed by people’s representatives. Several of them demanded before television cameras to hang the alleged perpetrator. A couple of them even said, “No matter what the law says, the rapist must be hanged.” Senior minister Girish Mahajan’s plea to respect law was in vain. He withdrew, frustrated in front of the mob fury. Top police officials, too, tried to explain the legal position but the protestors were in no mood to listen to any argument. This showed how society’s so-called leaders were ineffective in persuading people to disperse. One remembers how the word of political leaders was respected by freedom fighters and even later. As today’s leaders are unable to venture out of their homes or office without taking a heavy security detail, such a calming initiative can hardly be expected from them. This was starkly laid bare by this tragedy.

Comparing the Badlapur tragedy with that of Kolkata has also become a political tool. All said and done, it must be conceded that in Maharashtra, the response was much more prompt. In the Badlapur case, some police personnel have faced punitive action and the school management, too, is facing the music. On the other hand, in Kolkata, the overall conspiracy to suppress the case is shocking.

The nation’s track record about handling sexual abuse cases is not too bright. A POCSO court sentenced six accused to life imprisonment for their involvement in the infamous Ajmer sex scandal 32 years after it took place in 1992. Such delays shake the common man’s confidence in the rule of law. It is needed to re-establish this faith in the judiciary and the government’s constitutional duty to maintain law and order, no matter which party is ruling.

The community’s frustration has many angles, besides the focus on this atrocity. Life in urban areas has become a daily struggle. The patience of people is tested every day. Even going to the office and returning has become an ordeal for millions. The harassment is compounded by the bad roads, flooding, lack of public transport and encroachments. One only hopes that such eruptions do not occur again and massive protests like Badlapur become history.