What is worse than rape itself? In today’s world, rape and sexual assault are among the most heinous crimes in India. Almost every day, a woman goes through sexual assault. Almost every woman, once in their lives have been a victim of sexual assault. Whether it’s a little girl, a working–class woman, a mother or any elderly woman, there are cases of sexual assault still pending in India. Every year, we come across several rape cases that are so heinous in nature that it’s nearly impossible to comprehend the perspective of the victim. But what is worse than rape itself is what comes after the assault. The victim, whether she is alive or dead, must have a fair chance of justice. Unfortunately, the judicial system of India is still incompetent in serving justice to those who have a victim of sexual assault, along with their families.
It is disheartening to acknowledge that even in the 21st century, where everyone has basic knowledge and education, the victims of sexual assault wish to remain silent because of the fear of being shamed in front of society. We, as people, make society, and it is the responsibility of the government to eradicate all the crimes happening in this country. Along with the government, it is our responsibility as sincere citizens of this country to make this country a safer and better place to live in. Yet, unfortunately, in so many cases and aspects, we ignore and neglect our duties as citizens of India. This is exactly why a country as vast as India, with rich cultural and social beliefs, fails to serve justice to the victims. This is why crimes like rape, sexual assault and corruption persist in India.
After a woman is sexually assaulted, she is stripped of her dignity. In cases where the victim lives, for the rest of her life, she lives in fear and in judgement. She fears being judged by society, and eventually she loses her will to live. Fighting for justice, when she is the victim herself, shows how the citizens and the government have failed in so many ways. Even in the present, when there is a case of rape or sexual assault, the victim is questioned instead of the alleged rapists. The victim has to go through several judgments and humiliation by society, while the alleged rapist roams around freely.
Begusarai Rape Case and Humiliation
Among many other rape cases pending in courts, there is one such case that happened in Begusarai, Bihar. Begusarai is a small village located in the state of Bihar. In villages like Begusarai, the majority of the people still trust the small panchayat for resolving their issues. Whenever there are any issues, the villagers turn to the small panchayat instead of filing any First Information Report (FIR) with the police station. Thus, it can be perceived that still, in so many places in India, especially in villages, the village court or the panchayat overrides the police and the judicial system.
There are several reasons why the villagers turn to the panchayat instead of the police station. One main reason is that people find it very intimidating to file an FIR. People in any village put their complete trust in informal gatherings, whereas they have a limited amount of trust in formal institutions. Another main reason is that people in a village fear losing their dignity and reputation. Since there is no pressure to compromise social reputation in the Panchayat, villagers often do not consider filing any FIR at the police station.
In June 2026, a disturbing incident in Begusarai district of Bihar drew attention to the way serious allegations of sexual violence can be handled outside the formal justice system. A woman reportedly alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by a man from her village. Instead of the matter being immediately reported to the police, a village panchayat reportedly intervened and held an informal hearing. The woman was allegedly subjected to degrading treatment, including being forced to lick spit from the ground in front of villagers, while the accused man was also reportedly punished by the community. Although the incident took place in June, it remained largely out of public view until a video documenting the humiliation surfaced and went viral on social media in late July. The circulation of the video triggered widespread public outrage and brought the incident to the attention of the authorities. Following the public uproar, an FIR was registered, and police began investigating both the original allegation of sexual assault and the alleged actions of the village panchayat. The case has since raised serious concerns about the continued influence of informal village justice, the humiliation faced by women who report sexual violence, and the dangers of allowing community-based punishments to replace due process and the formal legal system.
The rape case of Begusarai, Bihar, not only reveals the overruling power of the panchayat over the police in small villages, but also exposes patriarchy, social pressure, lack of legal awareness, distrust of institutions and informal power structures that can combine to create a parallel system of justice. Thus, it is necessary to educate the citizens of India, especially those in small villages. It is the responsibility of the government and society to ensure the proper implementation of laws at the grassroots level. Small informal gatherings of people like the panchayat in the villages can precisely help in resolving small issues of farmers and disputes among villagers. However, cases of rape and sexual assault, where the dignity of a woman is being questioned, must be handled by the local police and the judicial system.
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