Prajwala attacked
Letter just sent out from Sunitha, TEDIndia presenter and inspiring warrior for social justice for sex trafficked women and children. Hopefully we will learn soon how or whether we can help.
From: sunitha krishnanDate: Wednesday, February 8, 2012ATTACKS ON PRAJWALA CENTERS
There have been 3 attacks on various Prajwala transition centers in the last 25 days. The last one on a transition center on 7-02-2012 located in MM Pahadi in the old city of Hyderabad was the worst of all.
Armed men surrounded the center and refused to allow any children inside the center. The allegations was we were defaming the muslim community by claiming that we were working with women in prostitution and that many of them were from that area.
I personally went and met the local leaders who were agitating and was threatened of dire consequence (they have threatened to cut me into million pieces). On my response to go ahead and kill me, our women(who were till then silent) were agitated and they openly spoke about their background. This angered the agitating community further and they openly threatened to kill all these women who have indulged in prostitution.
As we anticipated humiliating attacks on our women we told the community that we will close the center. The situation is grim with over 200 children out of school and the lives of women in grave danger. I understand yesterday 6 of the women were badly beaten. Today in the presence of the local police the community is having a meeting. They called me but I refused to go, as I anticipate they will further humiliate our women in front of me. I am not sure what the verdict of the community meeting will be today, I don't expect it to be favorable either for us or the women, and I am prepared for the worst. Local goons have declared openly to wipe me out, as I am supposed to be the mastermind behind all this.
On our part we have informed the police and all concerned stakeholders. The local MP and MLA who can actually make a difference are avoiding me at any cost.
Sunitha Krishnan
Posted by Rose Shuman
