With cases of brutal rape and murder continuing to rock the State, Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki on Thursday summoned Director-General of Police BS Sandhu and sought a report on the law and order situation in the State.
The meeting came in the wake of recent incidents of rape and murders being reported from different parts of Haryana in past five days.
The Manohar Lal Khattar Government has attracted severe criticism from various quarters for deteriorating law and order condition after cases of two minor girls being allegedly raped and killed in separate incidents came to the fore. Apart from this, five more rape cases have been reported from various parts of Haryana.
The meeting between Governor and DGP continued for around an hour, during which the former sought details of various steps taken by the state police to ensure safety of women and children in Haryana.
Only a day before, a Congress delegation led by former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and All India Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev had met the Governor to press for their demand of dismissal of BJP led State Government over the deteriorating law and order situation in Haryana. The INLD has also demanded dismissal of Haryana Government and imposition of President’s rule in the state.
After his meeting with the Governor, the DGP Sandhu while talking to the mediapersons said that we are framing a proposal to increase the punishment of the persons found guilty of raping girls below 15 years of age. The proposal in this regard would be sent to the State Government soon, he said.
Recently, the Haryana State Women Commission had recommended the State Government to enact a law to grant death penalty to the persons found guilty of raping girls below 15 years of age.
The DGP said that we have also directed the police officers to ensure that chargesheet in such cases is submitted within 30 days.Giving details of the steps to be taken to ensure safety of young girls and women in Haryana, Sandhu said that we have decided to re-launch operation Durga to keep a check on eve-teasing in the state.
Women police personnel will be deployed as decoys near schools and colleges under operation ‘Durga’ in the state. Apart from this, more female police personnel will be deployed in various parts of Haryana to prevent crime against women, he added.
On the issue of spurt in cases of rape in Haryana in past five days, Sandhu said that investigation is ongoing and culprits would be nabbed.
I have directed that the cases related to crime against women will be monitored by SP level officers. We also have activated women helpline and directed to take prompt action on any complaints, added he.
When asked about the shortage of manpower in Haryana police, Sandhu said that more 4500 male constables and 1000 female constables will be recruited in the state.
Reacting to the controversial statement of RC Mishra, Additional Director General of Police, Ambala range who was quoted saying, “Rapes have been taking place for a long time and it's part of society”, the DGP Sandhu said, the officer should have refrained from giving such a statement and he will take up the issue with him.
Meanwhile, the state police has directed the police officers in all districts to ensure that the liquor stores are not opened till late night. The police officers have also been asked to step up vigilance and patrolling of the isolated and vulnerable areas to create a safe environment for women and children.
Under fire for deteriorating law and order situation, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal had on Wednesday met BJP chief Amit Shah to apprize him of the current situation and political developments in the state.
After the meeting, the Chief Minister had assured strict action against those involved in crime against women and also urged the opposition parties not to politicise the recent rape and murder cases in Haryana.
Meanwhile, protests continued in various parts of Haryana against the State Government. Several people took to the streets in various districts to protest against the BJP government and burnt effigies of the Chief Minister.
NCW chief meets DGP
National Commission for Women, chairperson Rekha Sharma on Thursday met DGP BS Sandhu in Panchkula and demanded prompt action in complaints of crime against women.
After meeting the DGP, Rekha Sharma while talking to the mediapersons said that
I met DGP in the wake of rape cases happening in Haryana. I had written a letter to him to send me a report within 48 hours. However I was not satisfied with their report, she said. Expressing concern over the spurt in cases of heinous crime against young girls, the NCW chief said that she is also concerned about the behaviour of the Haryana police personnel.
“I have been receiving a lot of complaints. The women are even hesitant to go to women police stations to register their complaints,” said Sharma.
I have raised this issue with the DGP. Haryana Police have agreed to sensitise their personnel and now, sensitization programmes would be held for state police personnel so that they can handle crime cases related to women with sensitivity, she added.
Opposition continues its tirade against BJP-led Haryana Govt
Congress has lambasted the BJP led Haryana Govt for its failure to curb the cases of rape and murder in the State. Senior Congress leader and party’s communication in-charge Randeep Surjewala on Thursday said that Haryana has become a crime hub under BJP Govt.
The truth is that organised and unorganised crime rules the roost as Khatter Government is found wanting and sleeping every time there is a sexual assault or a rape or a gang rape against a hapless victim. The truth also remains that the state which said that we will start the movement of ‘Beti Bachao’, the most number of gang rape and rape cases are happening in that very state and it is all happening on account of ignorance, apathy of an incompetent Government, which has failed to check crime, alleged Surjewala, who is an MLA from Haryana.
He added that the CM, who is also the Home Minister cannot shirk his responsibility and we hold Manohar Lal Khatter and his Government accountable for the spate of rape cases.
The NCRB data reflects that there were 1,198 rape cases in Haryana in 2016 and 191 gang rape cases. In fact, Haryana has got the highest average of gang rape cases in the country now, said he.
The Congress again reiterate that if Manohar Lal is unable to check the sexual predators as also the crimes against the daughters of Haryana, he has no right to continue even for a day as the Chief Minister, added he.