Enact strict laws

Amrit Brar

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No woman is safe from the threat of rape in India. The situation is slipping from bad to worse. The rapists need to be shot dead in public to instill fear in the minds of the offenders, to ensure there’s a strong deterrent. But who will take the call? Our politicians don’t care – no surprises there for many of those sitting in Parliament and state Assemblies are criminals themselves. The human rights groups step in only to gain some cheap popularity, and the candlelight brigade gets a few picture clicked and carry on with their lives. No one cares enough.

Unfortunately, the mindset of most men in this country is that every woman wants/needs sex and “who better than me to provide that”. This attitude needs to be taken care of. Our Prime Minister has coined the “Beti Bachao Beti Padao” slogan but says nothing on “Beti ki Izzat Bachao”. It’s time the Prime Minister took the lead to enact some strict anti-rape laws.

Over 50 per cent rapes go unreported in this country, especially in rural areas. Victims don’t speak up fearing social stigma. And if someone does come forward, police officials are reluctant to register a complaint. The general attitude is, either the complainant is lying or she must have given her consent. Yes, there’s no denying that some women lodge false complaints for personal gains or vendetta. But the definition of rape is very clear – it definitely does not mean consensual sex. Rape is a heinous crime and needs to be dealt with strictly. Why does it take years for the victim to get justice or for the rapists to get caught? And, god forbid, if the rapist is well-connected, the entire system comes forward to protect him? Why can’t law take its course in each and every case?

We need to give right value system to our children right from the start, beginning at home. Schools need to educate children about respecting the wishes of other human beings. Besides, we need long term solutions to control the growing menace, not kneejerk and short term remedies that are restricted to individual issues. Initiatives like plying busses or police dropping women home at night won’t yield much results. Police won’t have enough woman officials and vehicles to carry out such initiatives. Such solutions, besides not being long term, could be implemented only in cities. What about women in the villages?

A more effective solution will be, say, reducing the juvenile age to 12 or 13 years. The current generation is sexually more aware because of technology. Lest they attempt something awful, they need to be made aware that they can’t get away with it. The punishment should be quick and exemplary. We can no longer wait for things to happen on their own pace. We need to look at the laws of the countries which are relatively safer for women. Our little girls are being raped almost every day. It’s high time the government paid heed and framed strict laws and save our daughters.

What can the police do?

1) Sensitise its officials to the crime. Be compassionate to the victim, instead of causing more agony and pain

2) Register the case without delay

3) Get the medical done immediately

4) Start investigation immediately without any external pressures

5) Each district should have a dedicated investigation team, which should swing into action right away. Preferably, it should be an all-women team, headed by a senior lady officer.

6) Discard primitive methods of investigation, use scientific approach

7) Police should intensify patrolling in deserted areas after the sunset

8) Functional helplines with zero response time and reaction squads should be in place.

9) Awareness camps / self defence coaching classes be organised though their welfare centres for the girls.

10) Laws should be suitably emended so that they there’s a strong deterrent

Reporting Time is of essence

Kanwardeep Kaur

Police is the first responder to any crime. As far as rape is concerned, timely reporting of crime and medical examination of the victim are crucial for collecting vital evidence which eventually results in a conviction. Any delay leads to loss of this vital evidence.

Timely reporting happens when the victim has the trust that justice will be delivered. Instead what a victim gets is apathy of reporting officer, judgmental and inappropriate comments from those concerned. Even after the Supreme Court has held in Lalita Kumari v/s Govt. of UP & others judgment about compulsory registration of cognizable offences and leaves no scope of a preliminary enquiry to verify the veracity of the claims, we still see many cases where a rape complaint is not registered. Any delay in medical examination as a consequence of this leads to glaring gaps in investigation, losing biological evidence like semen, saliva, blood, etc. After a few days of the non-registration of crime and lack of assistance or awareness for conducting a timely medical examination, victims are forced to compromise.

In a study visit to Leicestershire, UK, I, along with a delegation of Indian Police Officers, visited Juniper Lodge, a one stop centre for victims of sexual assault. From the first reporting of crime to specialised medical services, and from psycho/social counselling to legal aid and assistance in trial, these centres have it all. The staff of social services motivates victims through hand holding to pursue criminal cases. A criminal investigation is launched only if a victim wants to. Post the medical examination and investigation, even the trial takes place through video conferencing setup within the premises. At no point will a child victim, for instance, be forced to go to a police station, a public hospital or a court. This friendly environment helps them to firstly timely report the crime and then to co-operate in investigation. Post this initiative, there has been a proven increase in reporting and increased rate of conviction.

On similar lines, making police station a friendly, accessible and welcoming place will increase the reporting. It is a welcome step that Ministry of women and child development is in the process setting up One Stop Centers (OSCs) throughout the country. For the success of the scheme, it is a must that the staff including counsellors, para-medical and legal staff are well trained and well equipped. There is also a need to adequately sensitise the stakeholders, which include civil administration, police, medical and law officers.

It is also important that the duty hours of police officers be regulated, optimum funds be provided for investigation, dedicated teams be made for investigation of such cases and timely disposal be monitored at an appropriate level. Non-registration of crime should be reprimanded and strict action must be taken against the erring officials.

Police reforms can’t be done in a day. Neither is a crime-free society a plausible construct. However, good governance should have this exact aim. And to achieve it, society must be as much an active partner as the criminal justice system.

The writer is Assistant Inspector General of Police, Counter Intelligence, Punjab