By Anwarulhaq Baig
NEW DELHI: In a chilling echo of the Kolkata doctor murder case, the brutal rape and murder of a 33-year-old Muslim nurse in Uttarakhand has sent shockwaves across the country. However, unlike the nationwide outcry over the Kolkata incident, this case has received little attention, raising concerns about the disparate treatment of such heinous crimes based on the victim’s identity and the state’s political affiliation.
The distressing details of Tasleem Jahan’s brutal rape and murder have drawn parallels to the Kolkata doctor case, sparking outrage, but this incident has been largely overlooked, with minimal media coverage and a muted response from civil society and political leaders, in stark contrast to the nationwide protests that followed the Kolkata tragedy.
Incident Details
According to the police investigation, Tasleem Jehan, who worked at a private hospital in Rudrapur, left her home on July 30th to go to work. However, she never made it back home that evening. The next day, her sister filed a missing person report at the Rudrapur police station.
Eight days later, on August 8th, the Uttar Pradesh police found Tasleem’s body in an empty plot about one and a half kilometers from her residence in Bilaspur, near the Uttarakhand border. The body was discovered with her face mutilated beyond recognition, and her purse and mobile phone were missing.
The police investigation revealed that a 28-year-old construction labourer named Dharmendra Kumar, hailing from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, was responsible for the heinous crime. Dharmendra, who was intoxicated at the time, allegedly spotted Tasleem while she was returning home from work, followed her, and attacked her just as she was about to enter her apartment building.
“He dragged her into the nearby bushes, raped her, and strangled her with her scarf,” said SI Manjunath TC of the Uttarakhand Police.
Dharmendra confessed that he had followed the nurse to rob her, as he needed money. When Tasleem reached a deserted area, Dharmendra forcibly took her to the bushes and throttled her unconscious with a scarf when she tried to raise the alarm. He then raped her and killed her by crushing her face with a stone, the police said.
The accused then reportedly stole Tasleem’s phone, ₹3,000 from her purse, and other valuables before dumping her body in the vacant plot in Uttar Pradesh and fleeing to Rajasthan.
Uttarakhand Police Forms SIT to probe
The Uttarakhand Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged rape and murder of Tasleem. The SIT, led by SP (city) Manoj Katyal and supervised by SP (crime) Chandrashekhar Ghodke, is tasked with collecting all the evidence through technical and forensic means to ensure the accused is punished.
Family Reaction, Public Outrage and Protests
The victim’s family has firmly rejected the police’s claims, calling the investigation a “fake revelation.” Tasleem’s father and brother have questioned the police’s narrative and demanded justice for the young nurse.
Rafi Ahmad, Tasleem’s brother, has levelled serious allegations against the Uttarakhand police and administration, claiming they are trying to cover up the case and protect the real culprits. He revealed that Tasleem’s body was found with all her organs removed and her face disfigured, seemingly in an attempt to conceal her identity.
“The police have arrested a drug addict as the main accused, but we believe that there are powerful people involved in this crime who are being protected,” Rafique said in conversation with the media, demanding a CBI investigation into the case.
The victim’s family’s concerns have been echoed by numerous legal and civil society experts, who have expressed outrage over the apparent lack of action and media coverage surrounding this incident.
Meena Sharma, the Senior Vice President of the Uttarakhand Women’s Congress, has also joined the protests, leading a demonstration at the SSP’s office and demanding a CBI probe into the case. “We will not rest until justice is served, and the culprit is sentenced to death,” she declared.
The Congress Women’s Committee in Uttarakhand has also submitted a memorandum to the SP City, Manoj Katyal, demanding a thorough investigation and justice for Jahan.
The outrage has also spread to the political sphere, with former Uttarakhand MLA Premanad Maharaj leading a protest in Gairsain, demanding a CBI investigation into the case and highlighting other issues, such as the recent attack on a local Congress leader, Prashant Singh.
M.R. Shamshad, a senior advocate at the Supreme Court, stated, “The Uttarakhand incident is no less serious than the Kolkata case. These kinds of incidents reflect the society’s mindset towards vulnerable sections of the population. Just because the victim is a Muslim, she is not being given the justice she deserves.”
Z.K. Faizan, another senior advocate at the Supreme Court, expressed shock at the “terrible” details of the case, stating, “The Kolkata incident has sparked nationwide protests, but the Tasleem Jahan case, which seems to be even more gruesome, is being completely overlooked. This is a clear case of discrimination based on the victim’s religious identity, as she is a Muslim, and the state is governed by the BJP.”
They have also called upon civil society and Muslim organizations to come forward and demand justice for Jahan, just as they have done for the Kolkata case.
Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat also joined the protest, condemning the government’s alleged protection of the accused, which he said has emboldened the criminals. Other opposition leaders, including Congress MLA Qazi Nizamuddin and MLA Adesh Singh Chauhan, have also expressed their support for the protest and promised to raise the issue in the state assembly.
In Gadarpur, social activist Muhammad Shadaab led a candlelight march with a large number of supporters to demand justice for Tasleem Jahan.
Adding to the growing momentum, students of the Aligarh Muslim University held a protest on their campus today, standing in solidarity with the victim and calling for a fair investigation and punishment for the perpetrators.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the Congress leader, also commented on the issue, saying, “The cruelties committed against women in Kolkata, Bihar, Uttarakhand, and UP have shaken the entire country. At this time, women across the country are in grief and anger. Whenever such incidents happen, women see what the governments are doing. How serious are their words and actions?”
She further added, “Whenever there is a need to send a strong message about the safety of women, efforts have been made to protect the accused. Acts such as showing leniency in cases of heinous atrocities against women, providing political protection to the accused, and granting bail/parole to convicted prisoners demoralize women.”
Activists, legal experts, and civil society members have called for an immediate and transparent investigation of the case, ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice and that Tasleem Jahan’s family receives the support and protection they deserve.
The case has also drawn the attention of social media, where many persons have expressed their outrage and demanded a fair investigation.
Journalist Srkian Debasish expressed his dismay, stating, “One more rape case. Dharmendra raped a nurse ‘Tasleem Jahan’ of a private hospital. In Uttarakhand, there is no outrage, no protest, no candle march, because it happened in a BJP-ruled state. I request my friends to rise up their voice about this incident. #JusticeForTasleemJahan.”
Samir Alam, another activist, wrote, “Uttarakhand 33-year-old nurse Tasleem Jahan is raped and strangled to death by a man named Dharmendra. But unlike the Kolkata rape case, no voice was raised for justice. Because the government is of BJP and the girl is Muslim. This hypocrisy is our enemy. #JusticeForTasleemJahan”
Hassan Siddiqui, another journalist, echoed similar sentiments, saying, “This is the second rape case in a row. Shockingly, Dharmendra is accused of raping nurse Tasleem Jahan in Uttarakhand. Despite it being a BJP-ruled state, there is no outrage or protest. We need to demand justice and ensure that such incidents are not overlooked. #JusticeForTasleem.”
Kausar Khan, a prominent activist, said, “Another Rape case like Kolkata has happened in #Uttarakhand 33years old Nurse #TasleemJahan raped, killed while returning home from Hospital. Police have arrested the accused Dharmendra from Rajasthan. #JusticeForTasleemJahan”
Sameer Khan, a writer, echoed the sentiment, saying, “No outrage in India. Obviously. ‘Uttarakhand: While returning from hospital, a drunk Dharmendra raped and strangled nurse Tasleem to death. Police arrested the accused.'”
The lack of outrage and sustained media attention on the Tasleem Jahan case has been widely criticized, with many questioning the hypocrisy and double standards in the treatment of such incidents. This case highlights the need for a comprehensive and impartial approach to addressing sexual violence, one that transcends the boundaries of geography, religion, and political affiliations.
