By Passang Dolma Baraili
Dehradun, 1 Dec: The second edition of the Crime Literature Festival of India concluded its fifth session on the topic titled ‘Invisible Scars: Exploring Crimes Against Men.’ Journalist Deepika Bhardwaj and singer-actor Karan Oberoi served as panelists, with Suhail Mathur moderating the discussion.
The session highlighted the stereotypes men are expected to fulfill in society and the importance of recognizing that crime transcends gender. “Crime is a horrible act and is not exclusive to a particular gender,” Bhardwaj stated, commending the festival for addressing crimes against men.
Panelists explored the shortcomings of the justice system, where false accusations against men based on gender stereotypes can lead to wrongful punishment. Bhardwaj emphasized, “Perpetrators must be punished, but innocent men should not suffer due to misguided cases.”
The discussion also shed light on the silent suffering of male victims, often too afraid to report crimes due to societal judgment. The panel cited cases where men were denied justice due to prevailing narratives such as, “Men don’t fail,” and “Be a man.”
Karan Oberoi stressed the need to dismantle these harmful stereotypes. “True equality means treating both men and women as human beings, free from the constraints of gender roles,” he asserted.
The session called for greater societal awareness and legal reform to ensure that male victims of physical, sexual, and mental abuse can seek justice without fear or prejudice. The panelists underscored the importance of addressing crimes against men as a vital part of the broader conversation on equality.
Report by: Passang Dolma Baraili, 2nd year student of Bachelor’s in Journalism and Mass Communication, Graphic Era Hill University.
