Wake-up call for govt to set up special cells

DEHRADUN: The Supreme Court directives asking the Centre to utilise the Nirbhaya funds has acted as a wake-up call for the Uttarakhand Government to immediately constitute special cells for a speedy probe into cases of crime against women in the state.

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, May 30

The Supreme Court directives asking the Centre to utilise the Nirbhaya funds has acted as a wake-up call for the Uttarakhand Government to immediately constitute special cells for a speedy probe into cases of crime against women in the state.

In the backdrop of the brutal gangrape of a New Delhi woman, the Centre had announced several steps for the security of women, including the creation of Rs 3,000 crore fund in 2013 to be utilised to tackle crime against women.

These special cells, investigation cell for crime against women, are to be constituted to tackle all kinds of crime against women, especially, rape, molestation, dowry and murder. Police station will remain the first investigating authority, the job of the cell will be to conduct a parallel and closer investigation.

The Centre will bear 50 per cent of the funds for the first two years. The special cells will identify lacunae in the local police probe and suggest remedial measures. These cells will be manned by around 30-33 per cent of women personnel. Each cell will have a strength of 18 personnel, with an ASP at the helm. It will also have two Deputy SPs and four SIs.

However, after initiating the process for the creation of special cells in February this year, the Department of Home went into a deep slumber until the latest Supreme Court directives.

“Crime against women cells in crime-prone districts will be approved in the first week of June,” said Preetam Singh, Minister for Department of Home.

However, an official in the Uttarakhand Government was of the opinion that the delay was caused due to lack of clarity on the number of districts where the cells would be set up.

“There were issues pertaining to the identification of the number of crime-prone districts. While the police headquarters had made a proposal of 13 districts, the Department of Home was of the opinion that the cells should be set up in three districts, Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar and Haridwar, where the crime rate is relatively high,” explained an official.

Beside, the bone of contention was also the expenditure that would be incurred on the upkeep of the cells. As after two years of the inception of the cells, the establishment cost is to be singularly borne by the state, which could prove to be a costly affair in the long run.