Cops to sensitise girl students

The district police administration has prepared a roadmap to sensitise school and college girls, mainly vulnerable adolescent age group, to curb the menace of sexual assaults, including rape, molestation and viral videos.

Superintendent of Police B Jugal Kishor stated that it is high time the menace was contained. He maintained that enhancing awareness among the girl students may come handy.

“After summer vacation, from last week of June, we would be holding awareness programme in schools and colleges for the girl children from class IX onwards. They would be informed about the protection measures, penal provisions under the IPCs and legal relief etc,” said Kishor.

“Teams comprising police personnel, volunteers in social sectors and legal experts would visit educational institutions and disseminate information,” he said.

In the district in last five years (2013-17) , as per police record , as many as  730  cases of rape cases were registered  and  nearly  35 per cent of them were against minors. Despite stringent laws, like the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) and special court in the district for their trials, there is no let-up in the incidence of rape and sexual assault against minors.

In the current year till date while about 45 rape cases were reported to police, nearly 25 of them were against the minors.

“Ever since a special court has been established in Baleswar to deal with the cases under POCSO Act, the disposal has been fairly speedy.

In most of the cases, the accused are convicted. Last year, four Red flag cases were disposed of by the court within a record time,” said special public prosecutor, POCSO Court Pranab Panda.

The people working in social sector are of the opinion that   alcohol, drugs and abuse of social media are some of the common reasons for the growing sexual offences.  And in most cases, the accused persons are known or close to the victims.

Social worker Gopamudra Mohapatra said, “The misuse of social media platform is increasing alarmingly. Juvenile girls are falling prey to dubious characters. At times, the victims don’t know what to do under the circumstances.”

“The sensitising programme would help a lot to them,” she said .

The district, first in the State, following announcement   of the State Government, has opened a special cell in the office of SP for protection of women against various atrocities encountered by them.

The wing has become operational since second week of March (March12) and two women experts, with social science background, are posted to address the issues.

“We have dealing with the cases which are referred by various police stations as well as those directly coming to the SP office as grievances before registration of cases. Most of the cases are pertaining to domestic violence,” said member of the wing Malbika Bag.

“We are working in tandem with woman protection wing of the District Social Welfare Officer and with other organisations and providing psycho-social legal aid,” said another member of the cell.

In district while in 2013, 103 rape cases were registered, in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, the figures were 138,164,172 and 149 respectively. And, the cases against minors are 43,65,63,71 and 52 in these five years.