-The Indian Express The gangrape may have brought the tribal councils of this West Bengal district to notoriety, but it wasn't the first sexual abuse on their orders. What is more at play here though is growing outside interference in a region considered a vote bank, writes Madhuparna Das. On January 29 evening, 900 people of a village in Birbhum district's Labhpur block gathered near the hut of their headman. The hut,...

-The Hindu Rights may be self-evident and constitutionally secured; however, they do not automatically implement themselves In the last two years the highest courts in the country have responded to a mass call for more protection for women. Alongside, there have been many judgments from non-constitutional decision-making bodies like khap panchayats and kangaroo courts sanctioning violence against particular women or curtailing women's freedom in significant ways. Why is it that while there...

-The Hindustan Times Kolkata: President Pranab Mukherjee will meet shortly two groups of people who will give him the lowdown on the deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal, the state he represented for more than 40 years in Parliament. The All India Democratic Women's Association, the women's wing of the opposition CPI(M), is planning to approach him on the rising incidents of crime and violence against women and the alleged...

-The Indian Express New Delhi: In 97 per cent of the rape cases reported this year, the crime was committed by a person known to the victim, police data reveals. In 40 per cent cases, the crime was committed by a family member or neighbour, data shows. This year, 1,559 cases of rape were reported against 680 in 2012. According to police data, in 33 cases the father was named as accused and,...

-The Indian Express New Delhi: Days after the December 16 gangrape incident, hundreds of rape cases were sent to special fast track courts for a speedy trial. In fact, in January this year, six newly created special fast track courts for sexual offences received over 500 cases within three weeks of their creation. A year later, the trial in the December 16 case is complete. The case is midway through appeal...