Over 500,000 people around the world signed our petition in August calling for the Uttar Pradesh Government to provide protection to 23-year-old Meenakshi Kumari and her family after they fled their village in Baghpat district.
Meenakshi’s family feared violence after her brother eloped with a married woman from a Jat (dominant caste) family. Her family said they had faced several human rights abuses by local police and dominant caste members in their village, including an order by a khap panchayat- an unelected all-male village body- that she and her 15-year-old sister be raped and paraded naked as ‘punishment’. A case of alleged rape has been filed against members of the family, who say that it is fabricated.
The Supreme Court of India, responding to Meenakshi’s call for justice, has now ordered the Delhi Police to provide them with protection, as they are currently living in Delhi and are fearful of returning to their village.
Now we need the Uttar Pradesh Government to ensure the family receives adequate remedy, including justice and reparation. If the family is unable to return to their village, they must receive the support they need to live elsewhere in safety and with dignity.
Click here for more information and ONLINE PETITION.
