More women now confident of filing rape cases, says police chief

“Police have taken several measures to improve women’s safety. Also, we have endeavoured to ensure that women confidently approach police with their complaints and that FIRs are registered immediately. Police are supposed to file a chargesheet within 20 days of a rape accused’s arrest and, in case of a delay, the DCP will bring it to the notice of the Joint Commissioner of Police. In case of further delay, he is to report it to the Special Commissioner of Police (Law and Order),” Bassi said.

The police chief said a special protection unit for women and children, based in Nanakpura, has been conducting self-defence training
programmes for women and schoolgirls.

He said a 24X7 women’s helpdesk is functional in all police stations. Also, PCR vans are patrolling spots marked sensitive and vulnerable every night, he said. Auto-rickshaw drivers, the commissioner said, can be booked if they refuse to ferry women passengers.

In response to a question about AAP’s recent radio ad, wherein a woman claimed that police did not register a case of molestation when she approached them, Bassi said he wished the woman came forward and told police her problem, which would be looked into.