Since the novel coronavirus has hit the world, people have been confined to their homes. Sexual harassment, rapes and domestic violence has increased across the world, as countries imposed a lockdown to curb the spread of the virus. In fact, several women organisations have shown concern on spreading sensitivity and protecting women and children who are the vulnerable lot of the population. Seeking sexual favours in return for Covid-19 resources has indeed become a “trend". According to a report by Reuters, several landlords in the UK had asked for sex in exchange for housing amid lockdown.
India has been reeling under calamitous effects of the second wave of COVID-19, with a raging number of cases, shortage of oxygen, ICU beds, Remdesivir vials, plasma donors, ventilators, the nation’s medical infrastructure is on the brink of collapse. People are taking to social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook as well as WhatsApp to save the lives of their loved ones, with a request to help. Such requests are being amplified and spread extensively. Even though their medical crises are getting resolved but some predators do not refuse to shy away from taking undue advantage of others.
There have been some incidents in the past few weeks where women are being harassed online and men asking for sexual favours. One such incident has been reported from Delhi, which has sent shockwaves across the nation.
The woman claimed that her friend's sister was asked for sex in return for an oxygen cylinder. The Delhi-based Twitter user wrote, "My friend’s sister was asked by a neighbour in an elite colony to sleep with him for an oxygen cylinder that she desperately needed for her father. "
Netizens were outraged at this and asked the woman to complain about the offender. Meanwhile, in another case, that happened on April 14, a medical coordinator was arrested allegedly for molesting a Covid-19 patient quarantined at a hotel in Suburban Andheri. The accused approached the victim, tried to molest her and demanded sexual favours.
Another incident has come to light from Maharashtra when a Mumbai based woman was flooded with video calls, messages and disturbingly graphic and sexualised images after she shared her phone number online along with a request for plasma donation required to treat a friend under treatment. The woman wrote never put your numbers on a public forum.
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While a woman from Bihar accused three hospitals in Patna and Bhagalpur of negligence and mental harassment. Speaking about her ordeal, she said that her covid positive husband was not given proper treatment, either was provided with water or oxygen. She further detailed how an attendee yanked her dupatta, put his hands around her waist and harassed her when she begged them for treating her husband.
On Friday, a rape case about a Covid victim by a ward boy in Bhopal’s hospital was reported. The woman died within 24 hours, as per a statement released by the police on Thursday. The shocking incident was made public after a month following the arrest of the suspect.
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A time when humans should be there for one another and stretch their helping hands, some creeps would take advantage of the weak situation. It is saddening and worrying at the same time to witness how people are insensitive on days when the nation is going through chaos. Have humans stooped so low that what they think about is their own desires? Will help come with harassment?