JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNION
OPEN MEMORANDUM TO THE HOME MINISTER OF INDIA, CHIEF MINISTER OF DELHI AND DELHI POLICE COMMISSIONER
19
December 2012 The gang-rape and brutalization of a 23 year old student
on the roads of Delhi has shocked and deeply disturbed people across the
country, particularly the citizens of Delhi. The incident once again
betrays the impunity of the perpetrators who remain undeterred by the
police and the entire criminal justice system of the capital city.
Despite the massive public outrage, the official response to this
incident has been disappointing, with no one in office willing to take
responsibility for this sorry state of affairs. Yesterday, the Home
Minister paid lip service to ensuring speedy investigation in the case
but took no pains to announce new mechanisms or reassure the women of
Delhi vis-Ã -vis their safety; the Delhi CM held that the Police was
under the Home Ministry and subsequently decided to divert matters by
writing to the judiciary for ensuring speedy trial; the Delhi Police
Commissioner accepted no lapse on part of the Police, asserted that all
such crimes cannot be prevented and also tried to pass responsibility on
to the judiciary for delays in trial and conviction. The fact of the
matter is that all these offices and institutions are collectively
responsible for this pathetic state of affairs wherein women continue to
remain unsafe in the capital city of Delhi, as also in the entire
country. We are deeply concerned about the health and well-being of the
survivor of this brutal rape. We express our solidarity with her and her
family. We all unite in wishing her a speedy recovery and a life of
dignity.
We again demand the arrest of all culprits “ two of
whom are still absconding “ and also demand speedy justice for her.
The trial and conviction must be completed within 100 days. Demands to
Fight Crimes against Women Delhi alone accounts for 13.3 per cent of the
total incidents of crimes against women and 43.1 per cent of the total
incidents of crimes against children among 53 mega cities of India. In
view of the alarming rise in crimes against women in Delhi, particularly gang-rapes, the JNU Students Union demands the following:
1. Drastically improve the rate of registration of FIRs in Delhi.
As per the National Crime Records Bureau Report of 2011, of the total 14618802 complaints of crime received by Delhi Police only 59249, i.e., less than 0.5 per cent, were registered as FIRs. This shows the general apathy of the Delhi Police towards all crimes in Delhi. As per Delhi Police Annual Report of 2010, only 11.88 per cent of all complaints received by the Crimes Against Women (CAW) Cells in Delhi were converted into FIRs. This criminal apathy is responsible for the confidence enjoyed by criminals in the state.
As per the National Crime Records Bureau Report of 2011, of the total 14618802 complaints of crime received by Delhi Police only 59249, i.e., less than 0.5 per cent, were registered as FIRs. This shows the general apathy of the Delhi Police towards all crimes in Delhi. As per Delhi Police Annual Report of 2010, only 11.88 per cent of all complaints received by the Crimes Against Women (CAW) Cells in Delhi were converted into FIRs. This criminal apathy is responsible for the confidence enjoyed by criminals in the state.
2. Drastically improve the rate and quality of investigation into cases. Also improve the rate and speed of chargesheeting, trial and conviction. Currently, a bigger proportion of those charged with rape and other crimes against women go scot free. The conviction rate in crimes against women has fallen in the country from a meagre 27.8% in 2010 to 26.9% in 2011. As per studies conducted in Delhi, those convicted of rape lodged in the Tihar Jail of Delhi have committed on an average four rapes before conviction. This betrays the failure of the entire criminal-justice system.
3. Introduce compulsory courses on gender sensitivity in the training module of the Police Force instead of just a handful of workshops for a handful of Police Officers.
4. Ensure more women in the Delhi Police. Currently there are less than 6.5 per cent women in the Delhi Police.
5. Introduce Fast Track and Specialized courts for rape and other crimes against women in Delhi. This has been promised repeatedly by the Home Ministry over the last decade only to be reneged.
6. Ensure women constable escorted transportation on telephonic and any other form of request to any woman in Delhi. Make such transport available at speed.
7. Ensure more stringent sexual assault laws in the country. Amend existing weak laws on rape and sexual assault in the country.
8. Institute anti-sexual harassment committees in all schools, colleges and workplaces as per the Supreme Court guideline. Ensure passage of the prevention of sexual harassment at workplace bill after suitable amendments to remove weaknesses.
9. Enact State Level Laws in Delhi for curbing crimes against women.
10. Institute mechanisms to ensure physical and psychological wellbeing of all victims of crimes through counselling and dedicated medical facilities.
There should be one helpline number (like 911 in the US) that is manned by the police where women in trouble can call up and cops can be despatched immediately. Any call that goes unattended by the police should lead to suspension of the person manning the number.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above demand.
ReplyDelete