Solve issues amicably, not like Kejriwal: IGP

PANAJI: Inspector general of police (IGP) Sunil Garg on Wednesday advised women NGOs not to follow the strategy adopted by former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal of taking to the streets for redressal of grievances and to instead solve issues amicably through mutual discussion.
Garg was speaking at a function at the Goa reserve police hall, Altinho, where suggestions were sought on improving police services with regards to women security and safety.Garg said protests can be held at designated places like Azad Maidan and not on the streets.
Reacting to the issue raised by Sabina Martins, convener, Bailancho Saad, that police do not allow women NGOs to protest on the streets, Garg questioned, “Why do you need to protest on the streets when you can resolve issues through discussion? If you want to protest you can come and protest at Azad Maidan, there are designated places to protest, why do you want to adopt the Kejriwal way of protest?
Martins reacted to the IGP’s suggestion by pointing out that when Azad Maidan is pre-occupied they will be left with the option of protesting at places where illegalities take place. She also brought to Garg’s notice that police often discriminate while registering complaints, meting differential treatment to poor women. Citing some instances, she alleged that police
demand sexual favours and threaten
complainants when they seek to register complaints.
NGO members suggested that Garg have counsellors stationed at every police station to help women.
ARZ senior programme manager Vijayashree Irraker demanded the separation of the anti-human trafficking unit from the women police station for better functioning of the former. She suggested that local police stations be roped in during rescue operations rather than just the crime branch and that the police be trained in the latest technology so that the main traffickers are caught. She explained that the girls rescued are often unable to identify the main pimp involved since the entire deal is done electronically.