AIDS panic grips rapist

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AIDS panic grips rapist

RASHEED KIDWAI

Shyam Kaushal in police custody in Indore. Picture by Ashu Patel

Indore, July 8: Shyam Kaushal has been throwing up, rushing to the

toilet and cursing himself since he learnt that the deaf and mute

woman he raped and murdered two days ago was an AIDS patient.

Shyam, 25, is in a hurry to get himself medically examined but police

are not.

The rickshaw-puller is an alcoholic and occasionally takes opium. He

has confessed to the Indore additional superintendent of police,

Manoj Kumar Singh, that he had no idea his victim Pinki Berwe, 45,

had AIDS.

" Had I known, I would not have gone anywhere near her, " he reportedly

told the officer while cursing himself repeatedly.

In principle, a single intercourse can infect a person, but Shyam's

current intestinal problems can have nothing to do with HIV, a

medical expert said.

The only symptom of HIV infection — as of many others — is a mild

influenza-like fever, but that would take a far longer time than two

days to develop. It takes years for the symptoms of full-blown AIDS

to appear.

The police and social workers in Indore seem to be enjoying Shyam's

discomfiture.

ASP Singh said he or his men would not get Shyam tested. " Why should

we? How is such a test relevant to a rape-and-murder case? " he said.

The officer added that if Shyam managed to get bail, he would be free

to get himself tested. " But getting bail in a rape-and-murder case is

very difficult, if not impossible. "

Meera Shinde, a social worker who is looking after Pinki's 16-year-

old daughter, said: " I do not wish to pray for it but if he gets the

virus, it will be divine punishment.

" The man is now begging for medical treatment, but did he ever think

of the suffering his victim would have gone through in the last hour

of her life? He not only violated her but strangled her. "

Pinki's husband had died of AIDS 10 years ago. One of her daughters,

aged six, too, died of the disease.

The family's neighbours at the Devendra Nagar slum said they had seen

the rickshaw-puller hovering around her dwelling.

" Her AIDS was a closely guarded secret. Shyam must have thought she

was easy prey but in the end, he has become a victim himself, " said

Mohan Lal, who described Pinki as a " virtuous " person.

" She was killed because she resisted him, " he added.

ASP Singh said Shyam did not have a criminal record. " So far we have

very sketchy information about him. He lost his wife a couple of

years ago. " The officer said Shyam had committed the crime alone.

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