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| EXPEDITE FIR REGISTRATION FOR WOMEN’S ISSUES, DCW TELLS DELHI POLICE |
| By : Puneet | Previous | Next |
| Posted on : 21 Feb, 2006 | Total Views : 469 |
DCW questions the efficacy of the women protection measures by police after receiving case of over 1 ½ month lag in registration of FIR in attempt to rape case
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New Delhi, February 21, 2006: A case of attempted rape and subsequent threats registered recently with the Delhi Commission for Women has brought to the fore a major impedance in Delhi Police’s measures to combat crime against women. Registering the case, DCW member Yasmin Khan found that the victim had been trying to get an FIR registered with the Police for over a month and a half, but to no avail. The victim, Dr. Ritu Saxena (name changed on request) is a Class I Gazetted Officer, who has written several books, and freelances for some newspapers.
Commenting on the gravity of the situation, DCW Chairperson Prof. Kiran Walia says, “If a victimized woman can not even get her FIRST INFORMATION REPORT for over a month, how can we even think of providing her timely justice? All our efforts and claims of providing the women of Delhi safety against crimes are nullified if the police sits back and waits in stead of registering the case. Such avoidable time lags encourage the accused to take law for granted and further victimize the woman. It is a matter of concern for the Commission that Dr.Ritu’s case is not an isolated such case where FIR registration has been delayed. The DCW has been receiving several such cases where the victimized woman finds getting the case registered with the police an arduous task.” Prof. Walia told that on February 8th, the Commission had written to DCP Anita Roy and also to Commissioner KK Paul seeking status report on why the FIR was not being filed in Dr.Ritu’s case, but have received no response till date.
Elaborating on her harrowing tale, Dr. Ritu says, “In October 2005, one of my professional acquaintances named Sangam Pandey invited me to the residence of our common friends’ place to discuss work over a cup of tea. Since both the husband and wife were known to me, it was just a casual venue for me so I agreed. But I was shocked to find that unlike Sangam said, there was no body at home! It was a pre-planned ploy by him to take on me unalerted. He tried to make sexual advances towards me and when I refused, he forcibly tried to rape me. Somehow I managed to escape. Fearing that his image would be tarnished and he may face legal consequences of his action if I reported, he started threatening me regularly over the phone.”
In her complaint, the victim told DCW that later in January 2006, the accused, Sangam Pandey, abused her and physically attacked her at the Kamani Auditorium campus, during which Dr. Ritu got injuries on her head and hand. The surrounding bystanders at the auditorium had to call for PCR help by calling on 100 to save her.
However, says the victim, when after the incident, they both were taken to the Tilak Marg Police Station, instead of filing the FIR, one of the officers there snatched her mobile phone, and asked her to first give in writing that she needs no further action in the case, to get her cellphone back! Ever since, Dr. Ritu has contacted several senior officials including DCP Anita Roy, Addl. DCPs Manish Agarwal and Rajiv Ranjan, among others but to no avail. She has also written to the Police Commissioner Mr. KK Paul on 31st December and emailed him again on 13th February.
DCW member Yasmin Khan said, “Since the Police has not been very cooperative in registering an FIR in this case, the Commission has requested Delhi Legal Services Authority (DLSA) to provide a free advocate for filing a complaint case u/s 156 (3) Cr.Pc. for registering her FIR.”
Written By : Puneet
