Doomdooma: Around 50 bikers from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh took part in a motorcycle rally in Doomdooma, Assam’s Tinsukia district, on Sunday, raising their voices against molestation, gender-based violence and victim-blaming.
The rally called for women’s safety, dignity and the right to live without fear of harassment or abuse.Organised under the campaign ‘Ride Against Molestation – Aakhir Galti Kiski Hai?’ (Who Is Really at Fault?), the rally brought together members of the Independent Bikerani Brigade, Independent Riders Group (IRG) and Ride All Queens Assam Motorcycle Club. The initiative sought to challenge the tendency to blame survivors of harassment and abuse instead of holding perpetrators accountable.
Speaking at the event, a participant said women’s freedom must go beyond slogans and translate into the ability to live safely and with dignity.“Women’s freedom will be meaningful only when they can live freely, safely and without fear. True freedom means being able to live with dignity and without the threat of harassment or violence,” the participant said.
Another participant stressed the need to address molestation at an early age, pointing out that the trauma of abuse can have lasting consequences for survivors and future generations.The participant said the campaign must continue across Assam to raise awareness about the issue and encourage collective action to prevent such experiences from recurring.
The speaker also emphasised the importance of creating a society where children can grow up without facing similar trauma.The biker groups jointly organised the rally to promote awareness of women’s legal rights, laws addressing sexual harassment and the importance of ensuring accountability in cases of abuse. Through the campaign, participants sought to encourage public engagement in challenging gender-based violence and discriminatory social attitudes.
Tinsukia-based advocate Jugamaya Phukan attended the programme as the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, she spoke about women’s legal rights, laws relating to harassment and the need to hold perpetrators accountable. She also underscored the importance of legal awareness and greater public participation in efforts to prevent violence and discrimination against women.
Doomdooma Municipal Board chairperson Kanta Bhattacharya flagged off the rally.Beyond raising awareness, the campaign sought to challenge a social mindset that questions the actions of women who experience harassment rather than holding those responsible for the abuse to account.
The central message of the rally was that survivors deserve support, dignity and justice, and that the responsibility for molestation and abuse lies with the perpetrators, not the victims.