(MENAFN- NewsBytes)
How did lives of the neighbors of Nirbhaya's rapists change?
14 Dec 2017
The December 16 Delhi gangrape, that shook the world, has made life difficult for residents of Ravidas Camp, the RK Puram slum which was home to the rapists.
The incident has branded the slum and its dwellers, who suffer stigma because of their association with the heinous crime.
Fed up with everyday accusatory glances and shame, the locals want to rename their neighborhood.
Here's what happened on the night of December 16, 2012
Incident
In a gruesome incident that sparked international outrage, Jyoti Singh, a 23-year-old paramedical student was brutally gangraped and murdered on board a moving bus by five men and a juvenile in south Delhi on December 16, 2012.
She succumbed to her injuries in a Singapore hospital 13 days later.
The families of four of the five rapists still reportedly live in Ravidas Camp.
Residents face discrimination, stigma
Details
The youth from the camp avoid telling their residential address to their friends, girlfriends and colleagues because of the notoriety that the slum has gained after the 2012 gangrape.
They are often met with disgust and suspicion should their address be revealed, reports Hindustan Times.
Several young residents have reportedly suffered break-ups and discrimination at workplaces because of their connection with Ravidas Camp.
Claim to shame: Camp residents want a change of image
Way out
The gangrape case has become a predominant part of the slum's history now, making it infamous across the world.
However, the locals question why the innocent should bear the brunt of the actions of a select few, arguing that one criminal act shouldn't define an entire neighborhood.
Those who could afford it have relocated. Others have decided to stay back and undo the damage.
Slum's new name the first step towards a new identity
Future
The camp is too small (has 600 voters) and too controversial for the government to want to meddle.
The locals have unsuccessfully approached the district administration requesting a name change. They will try again.
With their homes still being attacked and police vehicles still sounding sirens each time they pass, they believe changing the slum's name is the first step towards a new identity.
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