image source, Getty Images
- author, Mansi Deshpande
- position, For BBC Marathi from Pune
A woman has made a shocking allegation that her husband, including her father-in-law, forced her to sell her menstrual blood.
Such an allegation has come to light through a complaint filed by a 28-year-old woman at the Vishrantwadi Police Station in Pune, Maharashtra.
In her complaint, the woman has stated that her husband, mother-in-law and father-in-law abused her physically and mentally. She has also said that her mother-in-law and father-in-law forced her to sell her menstrual blood in August 2022.
On behalf of the woman, her lawyer said that when she refused to give her menstrual blood, she was forced to take it.
The incident took place in Peet district of Pune, Maharashtra. In this regard, a case has been registered against 7 people based on the complaint filed by the victim on March 7 at the Vishrantwadi Police Station in Pune.
Commenting on the incident, Vishrantwadi police inspector Dattatre Bhabkar said, “The complainant got married in 2019. Later, the couple lived in Chandannagar and Fursungi.
In 2021, the woman filed a complaint that she was subjected to domestic violence by her mother-in-law and father-in-law. While her complaint was pending, her mother-in-law and husband came forward and got the case withdrawn. Then they took the woman to her husband’s hometown,” he said.
Police said the incident related to ‘menstrual blood’ took place at the place where the woman’s husband’s brother was working.
Selling for 50 thousand rupees
The woman was staying at her husband’s brother’s house during the Ganapati festival in August 2022. Then the husband’s brother said that he needed her ‘menstrual blood’. Enraged by this, the woman said to get it from your wife.
Then, the ‘menstrual blood’ of a childless woman is required. The husband’s brother said that if he gives this to someone, he will get 50 thousand rupees. However, the woman denied this.
According to police inspector Dattatre Bhabkar, a case has been registered under the domestic harassment and sexual harassment laws based on the woman’s complaint that they had taken away her menstrual blood against her will.
Pune police said that no accused has been arrested in the case so far.
State Women’s Commission is looking into the issue, said its chairman Rupali Sagankar.
“International Women’s Day was celebrated recently. When we see such incidents, we wonder how much more we have to fight against injustice and oppression of women. The Commission will monitor the progress of this case. Action will be taken against the accused. To prevent such incidents from happening in the society, awareness campaigns have been carried out with the help of anti-superstition movement and social organizations,” said Rupali Sagar.
image source, Empics
Anti-Superstition Act
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the Legislative Assembly that the issue has been taken into consideration.
The Anti-Superstition Committee has advised that effective enforcement of the Anti-Sorcery Act is necessary to prevent incidents related to superstition and Agori.
“Effective enforcement of anti-superstition laws is essential. Rules for this Act are yet to be framed. The victims and the social organizations that support them face problems when they report such cases to the police. A case is registered only after that.”
“The police do not understand the law. In such cases, oppressed women have to seek help from social organizations. The police do not understand what is behind such incidents. The police need training,” said Nandini Jadav, state executive committee member of the Anti-Superstition Committee and office-bearer of the state department.
“This Act will be completed in ten years. We always create awareness. Government administration has a very important role in this. Its terms are essential. Only one group has been set up now. But the people in it are not asked to work through the committee. So what happens to the funding for this? What could be more unfortunate than not being able to frame the provisions of the law for which Dr. Narendra Dabholkar was killed? Nandini questions.
The complaint revealed that her husband’s family forced the woman to sell her menstrual blood for Agori Puja. Regarding this, Nandini said, “Not only domestic violence, but also witchcraft and superstitions continue to be used against women.”
“Along with domestic violence, such incidents are now occurring in large numbers. It turns out that even some educated women fall prey to superstitions. A complaint surfaced that a woman had engaged in Agori Puja with other women. How can society progress if women treat women this way? Nandini questions.
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