Breaking The Silence

A police campaign to make the victims of domestic violence speak out and stand up against abuse has saved dozens of families, reports Ejaz Kaiser

- Ejaz Kaiser

Domestic violence may be a crime, but in India it is also a social scourge that the victims, mostly women, are expected to bear silently. Quite often, chuppi or silence becomes the way of life for such victims, even if the abuse leaves them mentally or physically scarred for life and families shattered.

That is what the Raipur police sought to change when it launched the Chuppi Tod (Break Your Silence) campaign in midMarch this year. The campaign was the brainchild of Raipur senior superintendent of police Arif H Sheikh. With cases of domestic violence witnessing a surge during the coronavirus-mandated lockdown, the SSP felt it was time the victims spoke up about the ordeal they regularly face at the hands of their abusive spouses.