Bengal witnessing spurt in domestic violence cases during lockdown: Women's commission

Kolkata, May 11 () West Bengal is witnessing a risein domestic violence cases during the ongoing lockdown period,the state women's commission said on Monday.

Many women have been facing domestic violence andverbal and physical abuse even during normal times but thelockdown has aggravated the situation, commission chairpersonLeena Gangopadhyay said.

"Incidents of domestic violence against women havegone up since April and the trend continues in May. Many suchcases were repeats of pre-lockdown incidents," Gangopadhyaytold .

Seventy cases of domestic violence have been reportedto the commission since the imposition of the lockdown, shesaid, adding that the complaints were received from across thestate, both rural and urban areas including Kolkata.

There have been fresh incidents of domestic violencewhile many of the complainants were being abused since longand were subjected to fresh physical and mental torture duringthe ongoing lockdown, Gangopadhyay said, adding that most ofthe abused women are homemakers.

She said the number of complaints received during thisperiod was higher than what was reported in the months beforethe lockdown was imposed.

The complaints were received over the phone, WhatsAppand email, she said.

All the cases will be followed up from Monday and thecommission will provide counselling to the victims over thephone, Gangopadhyay said.

"In several instances the neighbours of the abusedwomen informed us but when we reached out to the victims, theywere afraid to air their grievances. Nevertheless, we askedthem to get in touch with us whenever they felt comfortable,"she said.

Sometimes, the victims cannot reach out to thecommission or NGOs as the perpetrators are always near themand also due to errant internet connection, Gangopadhyay said.

"We hope those who haven't been able to come out inthe open about domestic violence during the lockdown will doso when the restrictions are lifted," she said.

The commission is also coordinating with women's NGOslike 'Swayam' on the issue, Gangopadhyay said.

Anuradha Kapoor of 'Swayam' said they are gettingseveral phone calls and emails from abused women but "therecould be many more who are unable to reach out to us due tothe lockdown".

A spokesperson of another NGO, 'Sappho for Equality'said, "We are getting a lot of distress calls from bothhomemakers and professionals since the imposition of thelockdown. We are trying to counsel them over the phone andtake up the matter with the police." SUSACD ACD