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State to probe honor killing remarks

National Commission for Women demand police officer's suspension
State to probe honor killing remarks
Published: May 10, 2012 10:51 AM GMT
Updated: May 10, 2012 10:53 AM GMT

A northern Indian state government has ordered a probe after a top police officer’s alleged support for honor killings on Thursday caused a national uproar. Satish Kumar Mathur, deputy inspector general of police in Uttar Pradesh, was shown on television channels in a video clip suggesting to the father of a missing 14-year-old girl thought to have been abducted or to have eloped that he should kill the girl or commit suicide. Shaukeen Mohammed, the father, sought Mathur’s help to recover his daughter who went missing two months ago in Saharanpur. “If it had been my sister or daughter, I'd have either killed myself or shot them dead," Mathur, who is posted in Saharanpur, reportedly told Mohammed in the video. The remark has triggered widespread condemnation, with women activists demanding strict action against the police official. The National Commission for Women yesterday demanded Mathur’s suspension. Its chairperson Mamata Sharma said if needed her commission would send a team to Saharanpur for a first-hand account of the incident. Ranjana Kumari, director of the Centre for Social Research, an NGO working for the rights of women and girls, noted that Uttar Pradesh ranks high in cases of female feticide, honor killings and violence against women. “The police officer has not only justified honor killings with his remark but is also responsible for abetment to suicide,” she said. Such protests prompted Jagmohan Yadav, the state’s additional director general of police for law, order and crime to demand a fact-finding report. He also promised to find out from Mathur what prompted him to make the alleged remarks. Kumari blamed the state government for evading the issue by ordering a probe. “What is there to probe? His remark is in front of everybody.” Honor killings are frequently committed against women deemed to have brought dishonor upon their family. People who marry outside their social or ethnic group, or without their family’s consent often face the risk of honor killings.

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