Guwahati, Apr 2 : A police officer of the rank of deputy inspector-general will be posted in the capital to deal exclusively with cases of harassment and molestation of women from the Northeast who work or study there.
Forest minister Rockybul Hussain made the announcement during a Zero Hour discussion in the Assembly here today on trafficking of women.
When Alaka Sarma of the AGP asked whether the government had done anything to prevent molestation and harassment of women, particularly students from the region studying in Delhi, Hussain said it was an issue that had been addressed. “You will all be glad to know that a move is on to appoint a special DIG-level officer to address their security concerns. The state is concerned about the issue.”
The minister did not specify who would make the appointment but a source in the chief minister’s office said the Delhi government was most likely to choose the officer. “We do not have details but since the minister has said this in the Assembly, something is definitely on.”
A West Delhi police booklet titled Security Tips for Northeast Students/Visitors in Delhi, published last year, caused a stir with its patronising and mildly racist tone.
Sarma said after the day’s proceedings that the appointment of a senior police officer specifically to look into complaints of abuse of women from the region was long overdue.
Participating in the House discussion, she had suggested constituting a team of women legislators and home ministers of the northeastern states to work out a strategy to check trafficking.
The government said all legislators should be vigilant against trafficking in their constituencies and inform the nearest police station about any person/organisation suspected to be involved in such activity. “It is a good sign that the issue is being discussed in the House. This development itself should be enough for those involved (in the racket) not to continue trafficking. I request all of you to remain vigilant and inform the police, who will deal with an offender firmly, irrespective of how influential he or she is,” Hussain said.
Attributing the high incidence of trafficking to the socio-economic condition of the victims, the minister said the superintendents of police of all districts had each been asked to open a women’s cell.
“We are also organising awareness rallies. Intelligence agencies of the government, in association with NGOs, are identifying, rescuing and rehabilitating victims. Trafficking involves luring the victims with the promise of jobs or marriage, besides coercion. We have arrested quite a few people under the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act. But the problem necessitates a multi-pronged approach given the issues involved,” he added.
Official statistics show a steep rise in the number of trafficking cases since 2001. While only six cases were registered and as many persons arrested that year, the numbers swelled to 23 cases and 52 arrests in 2007. The highest number of cases, 28, was registered in 2004. As many as 82 people were arrested.
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