Woman files complaint against man who called for "women like her to be raped by rapists"

Anisha Sheth | July 28, 2014 | 6.20 pm ISTA social activist has complained to the Bangalore police after a man posted a comment on her Facebook wall, calling for women like her to be raped.State Secretary of the Bharatiya Jnana Vijanana Samiti (BGVS), N Prabha has lodged a complaint with the Chandra Layout police against V R Bhat, who posted the comment on her Facebook wall on Sunday. The comment has since been removed, but images of it have been captured and posted all over her wall by friends who expressed their support and criticsed Bhat.Prabha told The News Minute that the police had accepted her complaint, but that they had not yet registered an FIR as of Monday evening since they were seeking legal opinion on which provisions of the law to register the case. On Sunday, Prabha had posted some photos on her Facebook wall, criticising the widespread prevalence of superstition in the work culture of most people.To this Bhat said: “Honourable activist Prabha, add to your humanity, what do you know about the depths of Sanatana Dharma, people like you see a saffron flag and demand that it be banned. This the tune of those who read Yedegebidda Akkara, and those in that category. Poor things, what do they know, they think what they know is truth, (but) things will be all right if women like you are dragged by their hair and raped by rapists.”Yedege Bidda Akkara is a book written by renowned Kannada Dalit writer Devanoor Mahadeva.The person in the photo is V R Bhat. The text on the photo reads: Dhikkara to V R Bhat who called for (someone) to be raped. Immediately arrest and punish him. On the right is Bhat's comment calling for women like Prabha to be raped by rapists.It is unclear when his comment was deleted, but it found its way to the page, after someone clipped it. Bhat later apologized for the comment saying: “Prabha avare, I withdraw the statements I made in anger, unable to tolerate your criticism of Hindu dharma and the Brahmin community. I have no personal vested interests, or socio-political interests or hatred towards you or anyone else. It is true that I criticize those who insult our religion. But that does not mean it is hatred, it is only opposition to the statement. I am not someone who wished ill towards anyone. I beg you to forgive me.” (This is a rough translation).Many people have expressed their support for Prabha, merely leaving comments saying “We are with you Prabha”, and many others expressing outrage. Among many such messages, there was one persistent apologist for Bhat. One man posted thrice, asking Prabha to “forgive Bhat as he had apologized”.