Attack on ‘Rape-accused’ CM Hemant Soren is a big media story but the rape of a hapless girl is not story worthy

The convoy of CM of Jharkhand, Hemant Soren was attacked in Ranchi on Monday. Miscreants threw helmets and poles which caused panic in the area and the Chief Minister was immediately rerouted and sent back to the CM House. While Soren was completely unharmed during the incident, scores of leaders have come out to condemn the attack and even started a blame game. Moreover, this incident has got a tremendous amount of media coverage. However, given that the incident is avoidable, no one has come out to speak on the root cause of it, that is, demanding justice for gruesome rape and murder of a girl in her 20s.

On Sunday, the headless body of a woman was found in Ormanjhi area in Ranchi – the capital of Jharkhand. The body bore injury marks and it has been suspected that the victim was raped before the despicable murder. The investigation in the case is still underway, yet an attack on the convoy of CM Soren has gained more attention than the hapless girl.

However, that hasn’t stopped the people from demanding justice- and rightly so. With the attack on the convoy, the entire public sympathy and attention have gone to Jharkhand CM Soren and none to the gruesome incident which left a girl allegedly raped and murdered.

Starting their own blame game, Soren supporters, as well as, the alliance partner RJD has blamed BJP for the attack. In a tweet, the party has said, “BJP is a party of anti-social elements and rioters! There can be no place for Sanghi thinking in civilised politics! An attack on CM’s convoy by the BJP will not be tolerated at any cost!”

What has apparently slipped the notice of these supporters is that a rally was underway in the Jharkhand capital by the people who were demanding justice for the alleged rape and murder victim.

Another thing that seems to be amiss from the narrative is that recently, Jharkhand CM Soren himself has been accused of raping and threatening a woman.

A Mumbai-based model has alleged that she was raped by Hemant Soren in 2013. She has also come out to state that after the incident, he had constantly threatened her and the family against speaking about the alleged incident. Due to these threats, she had been forced to withdraw the complain filed against the perpetrator. Detailing her horrific incident, the victim had even written a letter.

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While coming out criticise the attack on the convoy of CM Soren is deemed as the prudent thing to do, more so would be to speak about the dilapidating condition of women safety in Jharkhand, especially since it is at the hands of a leader who himself has been accused of rape. It is high time that leaders such as those from RJD stop their camaraderie with fellow associates and instead, work for the safety of women in the state, for which they have been elected.