Notice reminds states of “mandatory” procedures regarding crimes against women
New Delhi:
Faced with criticism over the failure of governments to prevent crimes against women, which has come to light following the alleged gang rape and torture of a 20-year-old Dalit woman in UP’s Hathras last month, the center recalled to the state and UT governments, laws in force for the “compulsory action of the police in cases of crimes against women.”
In a notice issued on Saturday, the Interior Ministry highlighted three sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure dealing with “mandatory FIR registration”, completion of the investigation (in relation to the rape) within 60 days and a medical examination. mandatory, which will be done with the consent of the individual, by a qualified medical professional within 24 hours after receiving the information of said crime.
“It is requested that the States / UT, can give adequate instructions to all interested parties to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the law … They are also requested to monitor cases in ITSSO (an online portal to track cases of sexual crimes) follow-up action, “said the notice.
The center further said that “the failure of the police to comply with these mandatory requirements may not bode well for the delivery of criminal justice in the country, especially in the context of the safety of women” and warned of “actions strict “against those who do not follow these rules.
The reminder comes amid harsh criticism of the UP government and police for their handling of the Hathras tragedy, in which a Dalit woman was allegedly gang-raped by “upper caste” men.
The young woman died in a Delhi hospital last week after sustaining horrific injuries in a savage assault that many have compared to the 2012 gang rape in the national capital, a crime that sparked protests across the country and calls for stricter laws. to prevent crimes against women.
UP police, accused of a slow response to the complaint, alleged there was no rape and cited a forensic report, which said no semen was found, to back up their claim. However, this has been disputed by experts who say the samples were taken 11 days after the attack.
The police also provoked a furious reaction after a secret cremation at 2.30 am that the young woman’s family was allegedly not allowed to attend; the police cited intelligence contributions from “major public order problems” to defend themselves in the Supreme Court.
The administration of Prime Minister Yogi Adityanath has also been accused of trying to cover up the crime attributed to the “upper caste” Thakurs. Police, meanwhile, have filed 19 FIRs, not against the defendants, but against “unknown persons” for a conspiracy to defame the state government.
The focus on the safety of women in Uttar Pradesh has been further highlighted by a series of equally brutal crimes reported in the days following the Hathras incident (which took place on September 14). At least three of those crimes have since been reported, including an assault on an 11-year-old girl.
Concerns for women’s safety have also emerged in other states, and last week the Jharkhand High Court reprimanded state police for a “poor and mediocre investigation” into the alleged rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl. years at the beginning of the year. Two alleged rapes were reported in Rajasthan last month, although a medical examination ruled out rape in one case.
According to data released by the National Bureau of Criminal Records last month, India recorded an average of 87 rape cases every day last year, an increase of more than seven percent from 2018.
The 2018 figure was also an increase from the previous year, with 32,559 cases in 2017 and 33,356 cases of rape in 2018.
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