A couple with AIDS in Jodhpur has been forced to leave their house along with their four children by the people of their locality after an NGO worker revealed their identity. The couple, which has their own house in Jodhpur’s Ambedkar Colony, has had to take shelter at the railway station for the past four days. The husband even pleaded that his wife was pregnant but no one was ready to listen to him.
The area police has lodged a criminal complaint under Section 107 of the CrPC and said that the matter was under investigation. The incident occurred when NGO worker Bablu, associated with the Jeevan Aadhar Community Centre, visited the locality to contact the family. He unknowingly revealed that the family had AIDS which led to anger among the locals, who gathered and asked the family to leave the locality.
The couple requested them to leave them on their own but the locals were adamant claiming they could be at risk. The couple saw no way out but to leave the house and move to the railway station with their four children.
The victim said he is a construction worker. “I approached the police but it offered little help,” the victim told mediapersons.
An NGO, the Network for Positive People, has assured help to the couple. “We are going to make some alternative arrangement for the couple,” Dinesh Joshi of the Network said. “It is painful to note that the police did not take interest in providing protection to the couple,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jeevan Aadhar Community Centre said Bablu has not been reporting for duty since November 10.
The Soor Sagar police station in Jodhpur has filed a breach of peace case against the local residents before an executive magistrate.
NGO officials said that if the worker revealed the identity of the family, he committed a great mistake and that he should have strictly maintained secrecy.