On 4 November, an AIPWA team of 50 activists visited Singahi Deeh village in Deoria district of UP, led by Geeta Pande, on hearing of the bodies of 3 young women being found buried in a field. On investigation the team were told that the three young women were Sarita, Anita and Neeta (all between 19-22 years of age) who were friends and belonged to the Rajbhar community.

Their bodies had been found when animals had dug up some body parts which came to the notice of a farmer. It appears that Anita’s uncle Dadan had suspected her of meeting a lover in the name of going to answer the call of nature in the night, and he along with five associates killed Anita and her friends and buried them in a field.

On 5 November 200 activists of AIPWA held a day-long dharna at the District Magistrate’s office, declaring that 1000 women would court arrest if the accused were not arrested. Local BSP MP Ramashankar Vidyarthi Rajbhar was giving statements favouring the accused. But AIPWA’s protest forced the issue out in the open and made the media recognise the killings as ‘honour’ killings.

The struggle for justice for the three women continues.