Mumbai:
Claiming that the city police had been now sensitised enough to deal properly with crimes against women, Mumbai police commissioner Satyapal Singh today said strict action would follow if a woman's complaint was not entertained. He also admitted that earlier there was "some insensitivity in the lower rung".
"My police force will not tolerate any incidents of eve- teasing or molestation. Earlier, there was some insensitivity towards such cases in the lower rung, but we have held courses for them. Now every police official knows that if he does not take cognisance of a woman's complaint pertaining to sexual offence, he can get dismissed," Mr Singh said at a function organised by the Indian Merchants Chambers.
With the change in police's attitude, more and more women were coming forward to lodge complaints, he said. "Compared to 2010-11, last year the number of cases registered is four times more. This does not mean the offences committed have gone up. It means people are now not afraid to lodge a case against the accused."
On low conviction rates in cases of sexual offences, Mr Singh said, "If the offences are committed by family members or relatives or the boyfriend, then the victim (subsequently) either turns hostile or marries the accused. In such situations, the police cannot be blamed."
The police commissioner also emphasised the need to educate children to change the mindset early on. "When Raavan abducted Sita and kept her in confinement for 365 days, he did not touch her even once. Will that happen in today's age? If a woman is kidnapped today, do you think a man will refrain from touching her? Education needs to be imparted about gender equality and values," Mr Singh said.
Talking about the alleged molestation of women constables during the Azad Maidan riot last year, Mr Singh said during his tenure as police chief, he would not tolerate any kind of misbehaviour towards the force, especially the women personnel.