Not Just Another Rape Story

There’s always a way to sell the word ‘rape’ to the basest voyeur in us. If not humans, even dogs will do.

Late last month, one Saturday night, Rajeshwary Khanna, while on her daily walk, saw a man rape a dog in public and screamed with shock. Onlookers gathered and beat up the rapist, a taxi driver from Bihar. It was a well-deserved thrashing. Half of Mumbai wants stray dogs killed, but they would surely baulk at rape. The mob then took the rapist to the police station, and when you get the State in on something, the story has to develop many new turns.

The police were reluctant to file a complaint but that was soon overcome by the intractability of the complainant, Khanna. They then deliberated over what to charge the rapist under (our rape laws are enlightened but not that enlightened). That was when Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, fresh from a browbeating because it persecuted gay sex, suddenly made a fresh argument for its existence—it says having sex with an animal is illegal. The rapist was so charged and later sent to a government hospital to be inspected for animal hair in his nails and telltale marks on his private parts.

Since the police were in, the newspapers followed. One afternoon tabloid, Mid-Day, broke the story, and the next day, went on a mission to get justice for the dog-victim. Another newspaper, Hindustan Times, did a follow-up piece. Among others, these reports quoted rape case prosecutors, rape case defenders, a spokesperson for the gay community, an environment and animal law expert and animal rights activists. Some of the headlines that ensued were:

‘Medical exam will be clincher in dog rape’; ‘Haan, maine kiya’; ‘Historic trial for dog rapist’; ‘My friend’s been framed’;  ‘Bitch traumatised’.

Some of the news reports went like this:

– “There is no need to take the bitch to court, but, if required, we will do that too.”

– “The man is so insensitive. He is a threat to society.”

– “The dog has been listless since the incident took place.”

– “There is no bleeding and we have not found any semen in the dog’s private parts. But we have sent samples for tests.”

If all this sounds slightly surreal, then it is. Women’s rights activists say that once upon a time if there was a rape case, the courtroom would overflow with every two-bit unemployed lawyer being present for the pleasure of looking at the victim. Laws have changed and victims have a semblance of dignity and protection now. But someone always finds a way to sell the word ‘rape’ to the basest voyeuristic instinct in us in the name of news and justice. If not human beings, even dogs would do.

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