In one incident that illustrates the unvoiced anguish of victims of domestic violence, a woman in Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh, walked almost four kilometers to a police station with serious burn wounds not to seek revenge against her husband, but to plead that no case be filed against him.
One of the survivor, Rashmi Rajput, was reportedly assaulted, strangled and then set ablaze by her husband, Raju Rajput, after a day of escalating violence. Rashmi told officers at the Civil Lines police station, despite the savagery, that she feared her children would have no life once their father was jailed.
A Night of Terror
The violence started on Sunday morning in the Naya Chandrapur area, according to police statements. Rashmi claimed that her husband attacked her throughout the day and tried to hang her with a noose. Then, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM, the situation turned deadly as Raju supposedly poured petrol on her and set her on fire, even though she had just managed to escape initially. Rashmi fled in a desperate attempt to stay alive and remained on fire. She got to a haystack and hid in it for the whole night, nursing extremely deep burns completely in darkness while her husband was reportedly searching for her.
The 4km Walk for "Mercy"
Rashmi walked for nearly four kilometers, at dawn, in excruciating agony, partially charred flesh and pain, to the Civil Lines police station. But then the officers were flabbergasted by her suggestion. As she explained the ordeal going deep down, she reportedly fell apart and went to the cops:
“If he goes to jail, then who is going to take care of my children? Their lives and future will be upended. Please do not register an FIR against him.” So the police promptly moved her to the district hospital, where doctors said her condition was serious but stable.
Legal Dilemma and Police Response
This presents a complex legal and ethical challenge for the authorities. As the victim hasn’t asked for any type of action, the crime attempted murder is a non-compoundable offense under Indian law so it is not something the victim can resolve or withdraw.
- Police Stance: They said they respect the emotional state of the victim, but they must follow the law. “We are recording a statement, and the issue is being looked under investigation. We will act on it, regardless of the request,” the police spokesperson said.
- The Accused: Raju Rajput is currently absconding, and a manhunt has been started to catch him.
The Cycle of Silence
This case, the social activists in the region note, stands as a direct example of how maternal instinct and economic dependency sometimes bind victims to their abusers. For many rural and semi-urban pockets of Madhya Pradesh, the “shame” that accompanies a father in prison or the departure of the sole breadwinner is often framed as a greater disaster than the physical attack a mother suffers. While Rashmi Rajput is convalescing in the hospital, if the system can offer her children any chance of a future without the echo of their father’s violence it’s a matter of contention.
