It is never too late to file a police report against rape or an attempted rape. For purposes to aid in the ease of reading this post, I am going to use the term rape, but please note I am referring to both an attempted rape and a rape that does take place.
There are several reasons why lateness should never discourage someone from going to the police.
1) A police record is made that this person attempted to rape someone.
2) If the record is made, it could validate an already previous case of rape or attempted rape OR it could provide validation for a future attempt.
If ANYTHING the goal is to prevent another attack or to provide evidence for a previous one.
The biggest problem from delaying a report of rape is the amount of forensic evidence does become limited as each day progresses. Also, when making a report, a person does have to realise a lot of personal questions will be asked and the person might feel as though he or she is being asked to relive the rape over and over again. Often the questions can be of an accusatory nature and the victim may wish she never went to the police. Fortunately things have changed a lot in the west, but I do not know the case in India.
Even if the person does not rape you or as the opportunity to touch your se__al (don't know what the censorship rule is here for the moderator for the use of this word which is used in a court of law and Biology 101, so PM me if you are not sure what I am referring to here) organs, you must make a police report. Any attempt should be treated in the same light as if a person actually raped you or touched these se___ al organs.
Victims tend to blame themselves; Mili might have blamed herself (and it would have been good for the CVs to have shown this) for having confronted Nakul. The truth is regardless of what Milli did that night, NOTHING gave Nakul the right to rape her. So even if you think you might have hugged someone, or were drunk, or uncounscious, or were even making out witha guy and decided it needed to stop, no-one has the right to rape you and it needs to be reported.
Even if a case is not won and the end result is the rapist does walk away, do not accept defeat. It took a number of women in the west who stood their ground and a supportive media that has helped to create laws in the west that lead to a change. Just calling the police is in itself a very courage act.
Let us hope that if the Indian dramas will insipre rape victims to take a stand and not continue with the sickening story of line of getting the rape victim to marry her rapist and have her fall in love, or even ask him for forgiveness for leading him on.
We really must move on from this mode of thinking and place our sympathies and support and strength for the real victim.
Just wish to add here: India needs to provide support groups for rape victims as well as counseling programs. If you do find a friend who has been raped or someone has attempted to rape her, the BEST thing you can do is support her by believing her. The greatest source of recovery found has been the acceptance and support victims have received. Just listening to a friend is the BEST thing you can do.
Laila
Edited by Laila2009 - 15 years ago
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