UP Man Raped A Woman Saying He 'Cured' Her - Yet They Blamed The Survivor

Due to the rising cases of rape in India, 2021 data suggests that 86 cases are filed on average every day, which has now become common, usual and known for many Indians and also to be used to such statistics on rape. While we all feel it is a heinous crime, we do so little to voice against it or create awareness. According to National Crime Records Bureau on average, every 6 minutes a rape takes place in India. All of these data exist of the known cases that are filed and that we know of, thousands of rape and harassment cases go unreported on a daily basis. 

UP Man Rapes Woman and Works as a Cleric

One such case that has come to light is of a UP man who works as a cleric in a dargah in Badaun and charges have been filed against him by a woman who alleges that this man raped her by telling her that he would 'cure' her mental illness. Deputy Superintendent of Police Alok Mishra said that the woman lives in Bijnor and comes to the famous Dargah of Bade Sarkar in Badaun for her so-called treatment. She further mentioned to the Superintendent that the man's name was Rahat and used to tell her he would cure her of his ailment. 

The woman mentioned how Rahat had a shop near the dargah where he would sell 'chunni' and 'chadar.' He would then lure her and take her to a room where he raped her continuously by telling her that he was 'curing' her while he also made some obscene videos. The Police mentioned that an FIR has been filed against Rahat on Tuesday, 14th May 2024, and a probe is on. 

Toxic Habit of Berating Rape Survivors

The sad reality of the Internet and patriarchy is that even after women summon the courage to speak up and make their voices heard, it is men who think that it is a false allegation or that the woman must have secretly agreed to it and enjoyed it. One of the internet users mentioned, "He (the abuser) should definitely be behind bars but if it’s mentioned he did it in the name of curing her mental ailments and it’s multiple times then there is definitely consent involved."

Another user mentioned, "He should be punished and she should be sent to school to get some basic aptitude classes." It has now become bold and valiant to somehow believe that users have the authority to make a judgement about a woman's traumatic experience and vilify her publicly in a platform that should be used to disseminate the right information.