Dateline: Mar 18

Tonight’s edition of Dateline will look at the brutal gang rape of a twenty-three year old student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012 and the country’s approach to laws on sexual assault.

The Indian government has passed laws to increase penalties for sexual assault, but as Dateline’s Amos Roberts discovers, the investigation and prosecution of rape cases in India has also become a political war.

Suzette Jordan was raped that very same year and shares her story with Dateline’s Amos Roberts.

Ms Jordan was out drinking one night with friends at a nightclub in Kolkata’s Park Hotel. There she met a friendly stranger and they started talking. The man offered her a lift to the cab station where she believed she could get a cab home safely. However, she soon realised there was something very wrong after the man let four of his friends into the car, too.

“…I tried to get out and there was no possible way of that – and that was when I knew I was in big trouble.” says Suzette Jordan

Suzette was beaten and raped whilst in the vehicle, however, what happened to her after the rape – when she sought help from the authorities – was also horrific.

“They humiliated me – they made me feel it was my fault…they constantly asked me if I was sure I was raped.” says Ms Jordan.

Her story swept the nation’s headlines, with media showcasing the lack of involvement and investigation by West Bengal police.

Under fire for her government’s handling of the case, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also weighed in, telling the media that Suzette’s rape story was part of a campaign by her political enemies.

Further police investigation and CCTV footage eventually identified Suzette’s attackers and three men were arrested.

However, the attacks on Suzette continued to escalate – with an MP from the Chief Minister’s party accusing her of being a “prostitute”.

The rape of Suzette Jordan was still a turning point in West Bengal. The authorities are now quicker to respond to complaints of sexual assault – even if it results in faulty justice. Two of her alleged rapists are hiding in other countries and the trial for the other three has now been going on for a year, but Suzette is determined to see it through.

“I am going to get closure – and I’m going to feel that every other girl will have even more guts to come forward and they’ll stop suffering in silence”

9.30pm tonight on SBS ONE.