Media is regarded as an important aspect of the country. They indeed have major responsibilities towards the society. People usually analyze the situation on the basis of the news published or broadcasted by them. Basically, newspaper is the major source of news to the people. They trust them on what they write. But these days, some newspapers concentrate on publishing stories of public interest, scandals and sensational material. It’s true that news interests people but shouldn’t news be based upon deep research and factual statements? Many publication houses exploit, distort, or exaggerate news to create sensation and attract readers. This time Astitwa is presenting a report regarding rape case at Jagatpur VDC in Saptari District where some newspapers gave the wrong statement by saying that 25 Dalits women were alleged to have been raped when there was indeed only one victim of that incident.

Basically dalits are still treated as low level citizens of the country. Despite their severe poverty, landlessness and illiteracy, the marginalized Dalits have been compelled to tolerate numbers of outrageous behavior like untouchability, public blockade, rape and other such ill treatments. Such incidents are remarkably increased after insurgency commenced in the country. The acme of such problem is pretty much vast in regards to the Terai Dalits as the level of their conscience is lower than those of other Dalits. This is the reason why, such events are occurring time after time . In the same district, a dalit woman called Maraini Devi was charged as a witch and was forced to eat human stool. Such acts are just intolerable.
On 23rd August 2005, leading newspapers of the country published an article “25 Dalits women were alleged to have been raped”. After the news was published, Human rights activist including the dalit and non dalit NGO’s, planned a visit to the spot. And they came to know that rape case occurred on 18th September, 2005 at Jagatpur VDC-4 of Saptari District. It was obviously an inhuman act. They visited the victim’s house in the process of investigation. People in the area seemed to be reluctant to say any thing about the incident. But they finally spoke the truth.

Heera (name changed) was very reluctant to discuss the incident. She mentioned at the beginning of the conversation that she had already been talking to a lot of people and that she did not understand the need to disclose her story furthermore.
In the village, the victim stated that no prior incident had taken place. Since the incident, people do not stay out anymore (are afraid to go out in the evening and during night) and have been upset that so many people have come to ask questions.

The night of the incident that Friday, around 0200 am, one man arrived and knocked on the door. Her two smallest children were asleep; the oldest girl spent the night with the grand parents in a house a bit further in the same village. Her husband was in Kathmandu where he is frequently working. Each two or three months, he goes there and comes back. It is the case for most of the male villagers in that area.

When she opened, the man at the door asked her for food. She replied that she did not know him, that he was not her husband to cook for him and asked why she would cook food for someone she did not know.
She stated never to have seen the person before and that he was not from the village. Then he blew off the candle light at the entrance and she could not see his face properly.

The man was wearing half pant, and had a gun on one side and a khukuri on the other one. She was then obliged to feed him; after he finished, he left. Both of her children did not wake up during this incident.
The same man came back approximately 2 hours later; it was still dark. That time, he forced the door and entered into the house. He immediately covered her mouth. She stated that if she had been strong, she would have killed him. He also strangled her throat and she could not scream or say a word. He pushed her on the floor, took out his Kukuri and put it on her neck. He did not take her clothes off, but raped her. There was penetration for about 5 minutes, she can not say exactly. The man left after that and did not come back. When asked if she was threatened by the man not to disclose the incident to anyone or if he said anything, Heera Devi replied that he did not threatened her or said anything to her.

She first informed her husband in Kathmandu about the incident by telephone as he was away in Kathmandu for work. She did not disclose the incident to anyone else.
When asked to the villagers, whether the number of victim was 25 or not, they informed that they were asked by the journalist about the numbers of Dalit families in the abode for which they had replied that it was 25. The journalist published 25 victims instead 25 families. They confirmed us that the victims were not 25.
They also informed that a meeting was organized to talk on the incident; however, it was not justified whether the meeting was organized by the Maoist or other unidentified. They replied that they were unknown about the organizers.

Some of the media have reported the news without knowing what actually happened. The negligence of the media in publishing such sensitive news without proper verification has made the locals much aggressive and this has left a negative impression on them regarding the media. That kind of irresponsible activities of media could result in losing its credibility and question of authenticity will arise.

So, from this incident we can clearly see the capriciousness of the media. A woman is like a glass, a small scratch can break it. Media has to understand that such careless and hasty broadcast of news can hamper the feelings of people and the reputation of the media itself. Such reckless act will definitely turn the media down. Media needs to give correct information to the people rather than giving unverified news story just to sell their paper.

They should always be cautious about the sensitivity of the issues and the impact of news on peoples rather than their one day sales.