State-wide Protest Day in Bihar Against Dismissal of Protesting Policewomen

IN Patna, following the anger of police officials on the death of a woman police officer Savita Pathak due to dengue, the government instead of acting against police officials who unleashed terror on protestors, decided to dismiss other 177 police officials including 77 women officials. FIR has been filed against many and now the attempts are being made to arrest them.

Police officials are also government officials and they too have democratic rights. Neither a show cause notice, neither suspension, straight dismissal. As if they are the servants in a king's court who can be removed at will. This is an unjust autocratic move. If the police manual provides such a right to the police authorities and the government, then there is a need to change it. It is important to protest against this autocratic move of the BJP-JDU government.

From Kasturba Vidyalayas to women shelter homes to now even police line, women are not safe anywhere under the rule of BJP-JDU. In police line, one after another reports of sexual harassment on women police officials are emerging. Leave aside the routine insulting comments and behaviour, for requesting even one day's leave, the senior police officials ask them for sexual favours. Additionally, even bribes are sought from them for sanctioning leave. They are treated like animals. In police line while there is neither provision for them to live properly nor for their medical treatment, instead they are subjected to sexual harassment. This is the reason for the anger that erupted among them.

The government should have introspected, acted against the tyrannical police officers, offered public apology to the women police officials and the citizens of Bihar and accepted the demands of the police officials. But they did not do so. Women police officers also are daughters of Bihar.

Due to the oppression of common people by the police officials, the people and our party have usually had a strained and difficult relation with them. Even in future we will continue to protest against police oppression. However, today we need to stand strongly against the assault on their dignity and on their democratic rights.

Protests were held on November 9 in cities and towns in Bihar by CPI(ML), AIPWA and other organisations including mid-day meal workers’ and Employees’ unions. The protesters demanded to:

1. Withdraw the dismissal of all the protesting police officials!

2. Withdraw all cases against the protesting police officials!

3. Register a case against tyrannical senior police officers for the murder of Savita Pathak

4. Arrest the police authorities responsible for the murder of Savita Pathak

5. End the sexual harassment against women police officers in Police Line

6. Provide 20 lakh compensation for the family of the deceased Savita Pathak