To empower women and combat growing crimes, Assam to set up special women cells

Guwahati, March 29: Special women cells will be set up in all the police stations in Assam to mitigate and combat growing incidents of crime against women. The Assam Government has also decided to increase the women’s representation in the police force. 

The Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court has asked the Assam Police to submit the list of cases, which need to be put on fast track courts to ensure speedy trial.

The Director-General of Police, Mukesh Sahay pointed out that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had written to the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court recently requesting him to ensure speedy trial of the cases relating to crimes against women.

By taking cognizance to the letter, the Chief Justice has asked Sahay to submit the list of cases, which need to be put on fast track courts to ensure speedy trial so that those involved are punished at the earliest possible time.

Further Sahay revealed that all the Superintendents of Police have been directed to personally monitor the investigation of the cases relating to crimes against women including rape cases so that the culprits are caught at the earliest. If the investigation is conducted properly, it is easier to convict the culprits and when the senior officers themselves monitor the investigation, it would be difficult for the culprits to escape punishment, he added. He also said that the SPs have been directed to take the help of legal experts during the process of investigation if required to frame charges against the culprits.

The DGP admitted that prevention of crimes against women is vital and said that police alone cannot do so as in a number of cases, the culprits are known to the victims and the society as a whole would have to come forward to check such menace. He pointed out that in some cases, the culprits and victims were class mates, while, there were instances of relatives and other persons well known to the victims indulging in such crimes. Another disturbing aspect is that even juveniles are now involved in such crimes, he added.

To check such crimes, the surveillance by the society is very important and that is why, all the district police forces have been asked to increase coordination with all the stakeholders to create awareness and to increase surveillance.

The Village Defence parties have also been activated to keep watch on their areas and to create awareness among the people.

He added that the Government has also taken a policy decision to increase women’s representation in the police force and as per the new policy, in the new recruitments, at least 30 per cent should be women.

Special women’s cells will be set up in every police station as policewomen will be definitely in a much better position to talk to the victims of crimes against women. Steps have also been taken to sensitize all the policemen about dealing with victims of crimes against women and children.