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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | West Bengal govt sets up anti-rape squad, finally -Ajanta Chakraborty

West Bengal govt sets up anti-rape squad, finally -Ajanta Chakraborty

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published Published on Jul 25, 2013   modified Modified on Jul 25, 2013
-The Times of India


KOLKATA: After months of being in denial mode over the rise in sexual crimes in Bengal, the Mamata Banerjee government has been forced to take action. Kolkata Police is setting up an exclusive unit by Independence Day to protect women, especially tourists. Women will make up half of this new squad.

TOI has relentlessly campaigned to make the city safe for women and the activism has yielded results.

The molestation of a Frenchwoman in Jodhpur Park and the string of rapes and molestations that made July a particularly horrific month left the government with no choice but to act tough. It makes a marked difference in attitude from the time the chief minister called the Park Street rape a "sajano ghatana".

Bengal has consistently ranked highest in crimes against women over the last two years and the government realises that it's doing the state's image no good.

The city police are kicking off with an "Atma Raksha" wing to teach girls taekwondo, judo, boxing karate and wrestling. Batches of schoolgirls will be trained for a month each. The next step is to set up a "women-in-need" cell for victims of sexual harassment. This will be a 24X7 support centre inside Tollygunge police station, run by a retired woman assistant commissioner of police and 12 junior-level officers. Four personnel will manage the helplines.

The government is keen to fast-track the project. Finance minister Amit Mitra, tourism secretary Vikram Sen and finance secretary H K Dwivedi met at Writers' Buildings on Wednesday to implement the proposals immediately. Discussions were held at Lalbazar police headquarters also.

The government is also working on a futuristic project by which women can send an SOS to police by pressing a single button on the phone instead of dialling 100 or 1090. The system integrates GPS with a tracking device so that police can instantly pinpoint the caller's location.

Policemen on motorbikes will be on stand-by at various locations to rush to the victim.Kiosks for the new unit will be set up at Sudder Street, Esplanade, Free School Street, Park Street, the Maidan (near Victoria Memorial), Kalighat temple, Howrah and Sealdah stations, the airport and EM Bypass (near Science City).

The tourist police will maintain a database of star and budget hotels and inform tourists how to stay safe in the city. They will have to meet lodge owners, transport operators and cabbies regularly to sensitise them. These police personnel will get spoken English lessons so that they can interact better with foreigners. "We must show our sensitivity towards the feelings of the women and respect their dignity and privacy," said a senior official.

The proposal came from the tourism department, which had earlier readied plans for a tourist police squad but forgot all about it.

There was hectic activity at the state secretariat on Wednesday with the finance department sanctioning Rs 2 crore so that the new policy can be implemented by August 15. The Centre will give 75% of the funds. The tourism ministry has been urging states to create their own tourist police, like Delhi. It was discussed at the national tourism ministers' conference in Delhi last week, where tourism minister Chiranjeevi referred to crimes against foreigners as a serious cause of concern.

Tourist police

200-strong cadre in 1st phase

Rs 2 crore sanctioned for 1st year

Kolkata Police to lend some companies

At the helm will be ex-servicemen and retired IPS officers, preferably women

They won't have the power to penalise but will forward cases to the thanas

Inspectors, sub-inspectors to be appointed from green police, NCC.

Apart from providing security, the tourist police will take care of other needs, medical issues, visas, passport, currency exchange, residential permits and immigration matters. The special force will also guide tourists about understanding the local law and order.

Women-in-Need project

Cops to trace harassed women

Will not insist on disclosing identity of the complainant

OC of concerned thana to be informed

Lalbazar control room to be alerted

Database of such incidents to be maintained

Follow-up action for arrest of the accused

Area of the incident to be identified and daily report submitted


The Times of India, 25 July, 2013, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/West-Bengal-govt-sets-up-anti-rape-squad-finally/articleshow/21319979.cms


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