I saw this story. A rapist in India burned his victim alive after she refused to drop the rape charges she pressed. She might have survived the attack if she'd not been dalit, or 'untouchable'. The only people in her village that own cars and could have transported her to the hospital in time were all upper-class and did not want to help.
This kind of action brings to mind the acid attacks on women in South Asia, or the continued killing of infant girls in India and elsewhere that just makes me sad.
Heather and I have talked about adopting another child, and we'd love to adopt a little girl from someplace like India, or China, where little girls can be in danger, but the frustrating thing, aside from the cost is that some adoption agencies in India will not let non-Indian families adopt. If the alternative is the above, what's the point?
I know that the above is not the only alternative, and there are plenty of loving and wonderful Indian families that care for their daughters and raise happy and healthy and securely, and there are plenty of American families that horribly mistreat their children...I guess I'm just more frustrated than anything.
I admire the persistence of Asha Katiya in not backing down from her attacker and not cowering in fear. It is a testament to her strength and power that she lived long enough after being burned alive to be able to name her attacker once again.
I hope that she and her family will see justice done. Sometimes these crimes just go away. I have a feeling this one will not.
Update: My friend Amit suggested that I, and anyone else that feels like they should do something about this crime or other crimes like this could contribute to CRY, an organization that specializes in helping Indian children and youth. To sponsor the education of a child in India for an entire year costs about $25.
