Act against criminals who target complainants

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In a shocking turn of events, a woman who had been molested in a local train a year ago found herself face to face with the molester. The accused who was out on bail, confronted her at her residence. He claimed the police had provided her address, though this has been denied. He then pressured her to withdraw the case.

The accused not only appeared on her doorstep but also caused a commotion, demanding withdrawal of the molestation case. This has its genesis in an incident last year when the woman accused the man of touching her inappropriately. A complaint was lodged after some difficulty and an investigation and arrest followed a social media post.

Now, his reappearance at the home has caused the victim trauma and fear, forcing her to refrain from stepping out. This is a distressing turn of events and all must be done to protect this woman. There must be no pressure on her to withdraw the case.

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This is the reason so many victims feel vulnerable and refuse to complain. They are warned of ramifications and though people do ask about why one did not go to the police, there are instances when complainants have been targeted.

This is especially true in the case of women and harassment/molestation cases. This means the women and families live in fear and for many unfortunately, the price of complaining or asking for justice is too much and they may cave in, withdrawing complaints.

That is why the victim and their family must be made to feel secure. They cannot be ‘paying' for asking for justice. Action will send a message to criminals and act as a deterrent. It will give courage to people to file complaints and start trusting the system. Complainant protection should be at the top of the pyramid.