Gang-raped and dumped in a pond

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Dear friends,

A young college student was gang-raped in West Bengal and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's response? Tell activists to "shut up"! Let's get her to focus her anger at stopping the rape crisis in her state -- which records the highest crime-rates against women in India. Sign this urgent petition before key elections now:

A young woman was gang-raped and murdered and her body dumped in a fish pond outside Kolkata. Weeks later, it's clear that only our outcry will lead to justice for her family!

Public anger is at boiling point with the state's female Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who told protesters to "shut up" and branded them "Maoists", instead of helping bring justice. But her party is getting increasingly nervous about her absurd outbursts because West Bengal will hold local panchayat elections in days and Mamata Banerjee needs votes. Now's the time to make our demands loud and clear.

When over 20,000 of us sign we will put up a billboard near her office with the state's horrific record against women and won't take it down until the Chief Minister promises a speedy trial and acknowledges the wider rape crisis by committing funds for a programme of education against this rape epidemic. Sign now:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/west_bengal_kamduni_rape_c/?bQwOObb&v=26544

The 20-year old student was returning home on a Friday evening when she was senselessly attacked, gang-raped and murdered in a lawless zone just 20 kilometres outside Kolkata. Like the Delhi rape victim early this year, she was studying hard to improve her poor family's lot through education. But she was up against a system and a government that has continuously undermined women's rights.

For the last two years, West Bengal has recorded the highest incidence of crimes against women in India according to official government data. Every single day, 80 women in the state experience some form of abuse or violence, and these are just the reported cases. Despite becoming the state's first female Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee has shown little interest in empowering women, even claiming that stories of rape were "news pollution."

This time she's gone too far -- and the party knows it. With just days until West Bengal goes to the polls, she needs to change her public image fast. Sign the petition to push her now to commit to a speedy trial of the accused and to a public education campaign to change attitudes. Until she does, we'll put up a giant billboard in Kolkata showing her state's abysmal statistics on violence against women.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/west_bengal_kamduni_rape_c/?bQwOObb&v=26544

Avaaz members in India have fought repeatedly for a change of culture to stop India's rape epidemic. The media has finally increased its reporting of the routine but insane levels of violence against women. We need to come together around all these outrageous cases to seek justice for the victims and demand a better society through public education.

With hope and determination,

Dalia, Alaphia, Ian, Oli, Ricken, Bissan, Meredith and the rest of the Avaaz team

PS - Many Avaaz campaigns are started by members of our community! Start yours now and win on any issue - local, national or global: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/start_a_petition/?bgMYedb&v=23917


MORE INFORMATION

Highest crime against women in Bengal, Andhra: NCRB data (The Indian Express):
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/highest-crime-against-women-in-bengal-andhra-ncrb-data/971777/

SC reschedules West Bengal panchayat elections (The Hindu):
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-postpones-west-bengal-panchayat-polls/article4860387.ece?homepage=true

Kamduni shocker (Frontline):
http://www.frontline.in/the-nation/kamduni-shocker/article4846033.ece

Forensic report not in, CID files Kamduni charges (Times of India):
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-06-30/kolkata/40285967_1_ib-report-cpm-supporters-forensic-report

Dissent at your own peril (DNA):
http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/1848283/editorial-dna-edit-dissent-at-your-own-peril

Curing India's rape epidemic: The Education option (Avaaz Report):
https://avaazmedia.s3.amazonaws.com/AVAAZ_How%20to%20cure%20India%27s%20Rape%20Epidemic.pdf

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