Families of convicts suffer
http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/3/20110801201108010241208373b937be0/Families-of-convicts-suffer-.html
Six teachers of PTC college in Patan were convicted in 2009 for gangraping a girl student. While they are in jail, their family members try to deal with the stigma; meanwhile the victim has started her life afresh and is happy
Hemington James and Dhwani Pathak Dave
Sometimes a folly results in suffering which lasts a lifetime. As the families of six teachers accused in Patan PTC college rape case have found out. The six teachers are Ashwin Parmar, Manish Parmar, Mahendra Prajapati, Kiran Patel, Suresh Patel and Atul Patel. Ashwin, Manish, Mahendra and Suresh were convicted on the charges of multiple gangrape, physical assault on woman to enrage her modesty and rape in a government educational institute.
The families live on the mercy of other people. However, the accused teachers’ family members hope that high court will declare them innocent. Meanwhile, they suffer for the crimes of their loved ones.
Aarti, Ashwin Parmar’s wife suffered burn injuries a few days ago and is recuperating in the Civil Hospital. Ashwin, who is out on a parole, is taking care of her. The couple’s son has just cleared class X, “But there is nobody to take care of him now. He is all alone,” she laments. “For past two years, his fees have been waived. Unfortunately, there is no Class XI in his school. So we will have to change schools. Who will understand there?” she asks.
Ambalal believes his son-in-law is innocent. “There are no facts in this case. The medical reports and the statement of the victims have nothing common in them. Because of his conviction, we have to face several problems. Ashwin used to guide his son in studies. But now, there is no one to look after the poor kid, he has to study on his own,” says Ambalal.
Ambalal, Ashwin Parmar’s father-in-law
“The boy needs to get admission to Class XI. But all the schools ask about his father and what he does. What can the child do? How will he tell people that his father has been convicted for rape? In fact, he has given up studies and works as a farm labourer to make a living. But we have faith in the judiciary. We will get justice,” he added.
Meanwhile, Atul Patel’s wife Neeta says, “We live on the mercy of others. People who have known my husband and believe that he is innocent come and help us. The schools have waived fees for my children. I teach in kindergarten but there is no permanency in the job. Due to the difficulties we are facing, my father-in-law, 70, has started working in farms to earn money. I believe the entire case is forged.”
Kiran, who is physically handicapped, was convicted for unnatural sex, criminal conspiracy and gang rape. Manisha, his wife, says, “My husband is suffering from severe bone problems. He is not even able to stand by himself. He was the only earning member in the family. My father-in-law is a pensioner. It’s not enough to run a house. We are living but there is no ‘life’ within us. We live for our kids. The society and the people do not realise the pain we are going through.”
‘Divorce was the only option’
While the families of other accused have been waiting for them to come back, Manish Parmar’s wife divorced him after his conviction. Manish’s father-in-law Dineshbhai said, “I went to the Supreme Court to get bail for Manish but was unsuccessful. He was out on parole but I don’t think he will ever get bail or be free. My daughter is only 25 and she has a two-year-old daughter. I did not want to spoil her life so we had to take this decision.”
Flashback
The Patan Fast Track Court of Justice S C Srivasatava convicted all the six accused teachers, awarded them life imprisonment, and slapped fine on each of them for the gang rape and abuse of a Dalit girl student in Patan’s Primary Teacher Training College.
The victim was one of the five children of a Dalit landless agricultural labourer, who had sent his daughter to the residential college, dreaming of making her a primary teacher. A certificate from the college would have qualified her for a job in a government-run primary school. The girl was gang raped repeatedly between November 2007 and February 2008 by six of her teachers.
Kiran (circled), was convicted for unnatural sex, criminal conspiracy and gang rape
‘I want to forget it’
Today, she is a school teacher who ignites young minds, a wife and will soon become a mother. She is a picture of health and well being. Looking at her, no one will ever be able to guess the ordeal she endured more than three years ago.
Patan’s PTC college gang-rape victim is content with her life today. “Life continues. There will be obstacles, but there will never be any stagnancy. Especially, love of our near and dear ones gives us the strength to overcome all problems and face life with more zest and determination,” says the girl who went ahead and achieved her dream of becoming a teacher and now teaches in one of the government schools.
According to the victim, her husband is her pillar of strength. “I want to forget all about the rape and get on with my life. I am fed up with the stigma that rape entails and being looked upon as mere victim. I don’t want anybody’s sympathy. I am fed up with people interfering in my life. I would like to spend my life in peace with my husband.”
Does she have a message for other rape victims? “It’s not easy to overcome the violation of your being. But it’s necessary to realise that there is more to life. I know my case can be very encouraging for other girls. Just remember that during troubled times, God gives us the strength to deal with them.”
Six teachers of PTC college in Patan were convicted in 2009 for gangraping a girl student. While they are in jail, their family members try to deal with the stigma; meanwhile the victim has started her life afresh and is happy
Hemington James and Dhwani Pathak Dave
Sometimes a folly results in suffering which lasts a lifetime. As the families of six teachers accused in Patan PTC college rape case have found out. The six teachers are Ashwin Parmar, Manish Parmar, Mahendra Prajapati, Kiran Patel, Suresh Patel and Atul Patel. Ashwin, Manish, Mahendra and Suresh were convicted on the charges of multiple gangrape, physical assault on woman to enrage her modesty and rape in a government educational institute.
The families live on the mercy of other people. However, the accused teachers’ family members hope that high court will declare them innocent. Meanwhile, they suffer for the crimes of their loved ones.
Aarti, Ashwin Parmar’s wife suffered burn injuries a few days ago and is recuperating in the Civil Hospital. Ashwin, who is out on a parole, is taking care of her. The couple’s son has just cleared class X, “But there is nobody to take care of him now. He is all alone,” she laments. “For past two years, his fees have been waived. Unfortunately, there is no Class XI in his school. So we will have to change schools. Who will understand there?” she asks.
Ambalal believes his son-in-law is innocent. “There are no facts in this case. The medical reports and the statement of the victims have nothing common in them. Because of his conviction, we have to face several problems. Ashwin used to guide his son in studies. But now, there is no one to look after the poor kid, he has to study on his own,” says Ambalal.
Ambalal, Ashwin Parmar’s father-in-law
“The boy needs to get admission to Class XI. But all the schools ask about his father and what he does. What can the child do? How will he tell people that his father has been convicted for rape? In fact, he has given up studies and works as a farm labourer to make a living. But we have faith in the judiciary. We will get justice,” he added.
Meanwhile, Atul Patel’s wife Neeta says, “We live on the mercy of others. People who have known my husband and believe that he is innocent come and help us. The schools have waived fees for my children. I teach in kindergarten but there is no permanency in the job. Due to the difficulties we are facing, my father-in-law, 70, has started working in farms to earn money. I believe the entire case is forged.”
Kiran, who is physically handicapped, was convicted for unnatural sex, criminal conspiracy and gang rape. Manisha, his wife, says, “My husband is suffering from severe bone problems. He is not even able to stand by himself. He was the only earning member in the family. My father-in-law is a pensioner. It’s not enough to run a house. We are living but there is no ‘life’ within us. We live for our kids. The society and the people do not realise the pain we are going through.”
‘Divorce was the only option’
While the families of other accused have been waiting for them to come back, Manish Parmar’s wife divorced him after his conviction. Manish’s father-in-law Dineshbhai said, “I went to the Supreme Court to get bail for Manish but was unsuccessful. He was out on parole but I don’t think he will ever get bail or be free. My daughter is only 25 and she has a two-year-old daughter. I did not want to spoil her life so we had to take this decision.”
Flashback
The Patan Fast Track Court of Justice S C Srivasatava convicted all the six accused teachers, awarded them life imprisonment, and slapped fine on each of them for the gang rape and abuse of a Dalit girl student in Patan’s Primary Teacher Training College.
The victim was one of the five children of a Dalit landless agricultural labourer, who had sent his daughter to the residential college, dreaming of making her a primary teacher. A certificate from the college would have qualified her for a job in a government-run primary school. The girl was gang raped repeatedly between November 2007 and February 2008 by six of her teachers.
Kiran (circled), was convicted for unnatural sex, criminal conspiracy and gang rape
‘I want to forget it’
Today, she is a school teacher who ignites young minds, a wife and will soon become a mother. She is a picture of health and well being. Looking at her, no one will ever be able to guess the ordeal she endured more than three years ago.
Patan’s PTC college gang-rape victim is content with her life today. “Life continues. There will be obstacles, but there will never be any stagnancy. Especially, love of our near and dear ones gives us the strength to overcome all problems and face life with more zest and determination,” says the girl who went ahead and achieved her dream of becoming a teacher and now teaches in one of the government schools.
According to the victim, her husband is her pillar of strength. “I want to forget all about the rape and get on with my life. I am fed up with the stigma that rape entails and being looked upon as mere victim. I don’t want anybody’s sympathy. I am fed up with people interfering in my life. I would like to spend my life in peace with my husband.”
Does she have a message for other rape victims? “It’s not easy to overcome the violation of your being. But it’s necessary to realise that there is more to life. I know my case can be very encouraging for other girls. Just remember that during troubled times, God gives us the strength to deal with them.”
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