Inter-faith prayer meeting condemns nun's gang rape

New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) An inter-faith prayer meeting was held in the national capital on Thursday to condemn the brutal gang-rape of a nun in West Bengal, with the the participants, including Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter Tara Gandhi, demanding that the culprits be brought to book at the earliest.

The Interfaith Peace Prayer, organised by the National Institute For Gender Justice (NIFGJ), was part of a series of prayers "Promise of Justice" launched by NIFGJ.

The gathering included former minister Narayan Singh Rana, Reverend Jesuraj of the St. Thomas Church and NIFGJ chairperson Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury.

The gang-rape of the 71-year-old nun of the Jesus and Mary Convent School in Ranaghat in Nadia district in West Bengal on March 14 has drawn widespread condemnation.

Those present at the prayer meet said crimes against women should be curbed.

Demanding justice for the victim, Tara Gandhi said: "Justice should prevail. We are getting more into technology for amusement and other purposes, we should use technology to control crimes against women and nab the criminals."

On the occasion, Rana said: "Women should be trained in self-defence, especially in rural areas and in schools. They should keep a knife, pepper spray, chilli powder in their purse for their security."

Reverend Jesuraj said: "Human dignity should be restored whether it is women or men. Such incidents are against humanity."

Mufti Shamoon Qasmi, general secretary of the All India Imam Organisation, said there was a "need of spreading awareness about stopping violence against women".

"School students should be made aware about such activities. Boys should be told to treat girls and other women as their sister and mother," he said, and emphasised on character building of students.

NIFGJ chairperson Chaudhury said the government should take concrete steps to stop such incidents.

"Such incidents are against humanity and need to be stopped right away. We have launched a series of prayer meetings. It will not be stopped until the government nabs the perpetrators of the crime," she said.