Editorial
Fire in a closed home
Apprehend the criminals
WE are shocked at the incident of arson that left two killed, including a minor girl, and five others of the same family critically burnt in their house in city's Kadamtali area. Though the local police suspect that the fire might have been due to an electric short circuit, the neighbours of the family allege that the husband of one of the victims could have deliberately set the house on fire. The very fact that doors were found locked from outside raised suspicion of malicious intent behind the horrendous incident. In fact, there are allegations that the husband was but a mugger who used to beat up his wife and at one point of time had threatened to burn the family alive. Now that fire has already taken two innocent lives, the incident must be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators apprehended.
Whatever the reasons might turn out to be in this particular case of arson, women in general remain most vulnerable in our society. They are being regularly subjected to torture and repression for an array of reasons, such as, dowry, divorce, forced marriage, child's custody, property rights and so on. Illiteracy plays a major role in keeping women in the dark about laws that prohibit such oppressive acts on them. Lack of economic power robs them of their voice and they suffer in silence. We strongly feel that scopes for women, especially for those from low-income groups and those who live in the rural areas, need to be created so that they may get counseling and legal assistance at times of personal crisis. The social welfare department and relevant ministries should install hotline so that women in distress can contact them for help and guidance. Also greater social awareness regarding violence on women and of the ways to seek redress has to be created across the country.
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