Kolkata: West Bengal's leading women sportspersons, who had come together to protest the treatment meted out to Asian Games gold medallist Pinki Pramanik by the authorities, Tuesday expressed relief and happiness at the court granting bail to the athlete.
However, they said the authorities must take measures to ensure that Pramanik could return to normal life.
A West Bengal court Tuesday granted bail to Pramanik, who was accused of being a male and had been under judicial custody since June 15 for alleged rape.
"Yes, I feel very happy. We were aghast at the treatment meted out to Pinki even before it was proved before the law whether she was guilty or not. Why was she put in jail and made to live with criminals?" said former national swimming champion and English Channel conqueror Bula Chowdhury.
She alleged that the entire episode has besmirched the country's reputation globally. It has been splashed in papers across the world and international coaches are calling up to express disgust at the way the case was handled, she said.
Chowdhury said it was for the court to decide whether Pramanik was guilty or not, and the law should take its own course.
"But we feel the inhuman treatment that Pinki faced, could have been avoided. Just because somebody has made some allegations, should that lead to arrests? Shouldn't the allegations be verified first? Why was the complainant's medical test not done to establish whether rape wascommitted or not?" Chowdhury told IANS.
She said women sportspersons, except a handful, get only honour and no money for their achievements. "And if she is robbed of the honour, then what is left?" she asked.
Former international athlete Rita Sen, who won the silver in the 1979 Asian Atheltics championship, said such allegations have been made earlier. "But we protested against the way a woman was being harassed by the authorities even before the final results of her medical tests were announced. It was very insulting."
Jyotirmoyee Sikadar, who won the 800 m and 1500 m gold medals in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games, said: "I know what it takes to win gold medal in international events. Years of practice, dedication and sacrifice finally bring such success. And is this the way to treat such a personality?"
She appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to give protection to Pramanik.
"Let the case continue. But I appeal to our chief minister, who is a woman, to ensure Pinki returned to normal life."
Lambasting the state administration, Sikdar said despite making a written application, neither she or Pramanik's father was allowed to meet the athlete in jail.
"We expected that Pinki will be released by afternoon Tuesday. But that did not happen. Also we are concerned where Pinki will go now after release."
"The key to the house where Pinki stays in Kolkata has not been given tothe family. We have no idea about the whereabouts of the key to the locked house. We dont know the condition of the house and whether all the belongings are intact," she added. (IANS)
