Crime against women on rise in Jalandhar, police vow action

FIRs in at least three POCSO cases, a 14-year-old's gruesome rape and murder, another minor's alleged harassment by a cop after her rape, and the gangrape of an adult mother-daughter duo, all within recent months (two in the past week) rang alarm bells over crimes against women in the district.

In at least two cases, police conduct came under scrutiny, with some attracting state-level commission enquiries. Repeated rapes, harassment, and abuse of minor girls raised serious questions about girls' safety and highlighted the need for large-scale police sensitisation to ensure prompt, stronger action.

The rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl on the night of November 22 stood out as one of Jalandhar's most gruesome crimes in recent times, sparking debate on women's safety and drawing political condemnation. The case led to an ASI's dismissal and suspension of two cops.

Despite the publicity, the victim's mother sought an FIR against erring cops, alleging threats and coercion to withdraw her complaint over lapses that day. She wrote to the Governor, CM, and DGP against an SHO and ACP.

In a second POCSO case, a minor raped on August 23 endured months of harassment by Phillaur SHO Bhushan Kumar before an FIR was lodged on October 14 following pressure from activists. Two further FIRs targeted the SHO, including one under POCSO for harassment; he was suspended after a viral video.

On Saturday, Jalandhar rural police arrested three youths for gangraping a 35-year-old mother and her 19-year-old daughter on November 23, while holding the son-in-law, a five-month-old, and two other children hostage. The perpetrators, aged 18.5 to 19, received mandatory minimum 20-year sentences.

A 15-year-old found dead in Jalandhar's Gandhi Vanita Ashram bathroom on November 21, two days after admission, prompted proceedings under Section 174 of the CrPC and an administrative probe.

SSP Jalandhar Rural Harvinder Singh Virk said, "Police remained committed to tracing culprits and bringing the guilty to book in women's cases as promptly as possible. Punishment varied by case, but gangrape carried a mandatory minimum of 20 years. Teams spent sleepless nights tracing suspects; the women stayed at the field owner's house (key complainant) for safety during probes. The arrests warned that no one taking law into their hands would be spared."

On rising crimes against women, the SSP added, "No society was crime-free, but police ensured prompt redressal of complaints via the national ITSSO portal for tracking sexual offences, Mahila Mitras at stations, night patrols and dominations."