Brand new state wide security system beginning on the eve of the Raksha Bandhan

Chandigarh August 26: Women in Haryana are all set to access a brand new state wide security system beginning on the eve of the Raksha Bandhan that promises an environment conducive to fearless reporting and sensitive investigation of crimes against them by only women police officers manning one women police station in every district of the State. The all women staff to be posted in each of these 21 police stations has been fully trained and legally empowered to exercise powers under the Criminal Procedure Code in this regard.
This was stated by Haryana Director General of Police, Mr Y.P. Singhal while addressing a Press Conference here today.
Mr Singhal said that the women police stations would facilitate such an environment to the women victims where they could get their complaints lodged freely without any hesitation. The path breaking initiative would bring expertise into the investigation process of various crimes against women and also improve the career prospects and jib satisfaction levels of the women police officers to work parallel to their male counterparts. He said that the Central Government and other States have also shown keen interest in this concept, a brain child of Sh. Manohar Lal, Chief Minister Haryana, which would go a long way in bringing a paradigm shift in the working of the police department.
Mr Singhal said that these Women Police Stations would undertake investigation of cases of various crimes against women such as stalking, dowry death, foeticide, molestation, sexual harassment, disrobing, voyeurism, eve-teasing, abduction, elopement, kidnapping, rape, dowry harassment, sodomy, illegal second marriage, abetment to suicide, child marriage restraint act if committed against a female child.
Also, Immoral Traffic Prevention Act and Dowry Prohibition Ac, Commission of Sati (Prevention) Act, Protection of Woman against Domestic Violence Act, the Information Technology Act, if the offence is committed against women, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act if any offence under the Act is committed against a woman and any other offence under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act No. 45 of 1860) or any other Local and Special Law forming part of same transaction or incidental thereto, to the events which led to the commission of above mentioned offences or any attempt, abetment or conspiracy thereof or any other offence relating to crime against women which in the opinion of the District Superintendent of Police or Deputy Commissioner of Police may be investigated in the women police station in the most appropriate manner. The Range Inspector General of Police and Commissioner of Police could exercise this power in his or her jurisdiction, he added.
He said that the investigating officer posted in the Women Police Stations would have all the powers as per the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Act No. 2 of 1974) for the investigation of aforementioned offences. Jurisdictional Police Stations would continue to have concurrent power of registration and investigation of aforesaid offences. He said that each Woman Police Station would have minimum strength of 38-40 police personnel including one Lady Inspector (SHO), two lady Sub Inspectors, three lady Assistant Sub Inspector, four Head Constable and 20 lady constables, besides supporting staff of 8-10 selected male police officials for assistance of the SHO for conducting raids, producing accused in courts, sentry duty and other selected essential duties. Also the Class IV staff would for duties like kitchen, gardening, sweeping and other services would also be all women.
The Director General Police said that each Woman Police Station would have the jurisdiction over the entire district. The complainants, however, would have the liberty to report and get the cases registered either in the local police station or in the Women Police Station. He said that each Police Station would have one Mediation Centre which would undertake matrimonial disputes and Office of Protection-cum-Prohibition Officer which would undertake dowry-cum-domestic violence cases. Apart from this, common outreach programme and women self training programmes would also be run from the same building. He said that 25 lady inspectors have been imparted special training about the functioning of Station House Officer at Police Academy, Madhuban in Karnal and added that all the 35 Mahila PCRs would work under the overall control of supervisory of the Woman Police Station.
He said that similarly Anti Eve-teasing Staff would work under a woman NGO and would identify areas where anti social elements may indulge in activities specially near the gate of collages, schools, shopping malls, bus stands, hospitals, hostels and other recreational centres. This staff would be deployed in plain clothes with walki- talki sets and motorcycles. Apart from this, Women Helpline 1091 would also work from Mahila Police Station and after receiving any information on helpline, would pass information to the concerned police station promptly. Mahila Rapid Action Force would be stationed in the premises of Woman Police Stations wherever accommodation is available, he further added.
He said that every Woman Police Station would be supervised by a Woman Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). He said that it would be our priority to provide office space to the Woman DSP in the premises of Woman Police Station. Range Inspectors General (IsG) and Commissioners of Police (CsP)would periodically visit the Women Police Stations under their respective jurisdiction and see to it that the Woman Police Stations are functioning properly for the purpose for which these have been established.
No IPRDH/2015
Vinay/Aditi