New Delhi: Expressing concern over a
spurt in the number of rape cases in the national capital,
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday asked the city
police to be more "vigilant and prompt" in ensuring safety for
women and "end the atmosphere of panic."
A high-level meeting presided over by Dikshit and
attended by Delhi Police Chief B K Gupta and Delhi Commission
of Women (DCW) Barkha Singh among others suggested setting up
of fast track courts to prosecute rape accused and decided to
increase helpline numbers of rape crisis cell under DCW.
Both Delhi government and the police were of the
opinion that rape cases should be tried by special fast track
courts on a day-to-day basis, officials attending the meeting
said.
They said the police will formally approach the city
government to process setting up of such courts, they added.
"We discussed the entire situation. We finalised
several measures to make women feel secure in the state. What
government can do, we will do. We are concerned over the
incidents, so are the police. We have to end this atmosphere
of panic," Dikshit told reporters after the meeting.
She said government, police and women organisations
must work together to instill a sense of confidence in women
and ensure their safety.
The meeting came against the backdrop of a series of
abduction and gangrape of young women in the past two months,
which led to a public outrage and raised questions over safety
of women in the country`s capital.
Ahead of the meeting, Dikshit met Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh.
In the meeting, Gupta gave an account of the measures
being taken to ensure safety of women in the city.
The measures include deployment of more women
officers, gender sensitisation, fast response, deployment of
PCR vans in vulnerable areas and setting up of citizen
panchayats.
Gupta said more personnel with proficiency in English
will be deployed in its women help line service. Gupta also
said 100 Hyundai cars will be deployed to monitor patrolling
by police personnel.
He noted that the Delhi Police has sent a proposal to
Union Home Ministry to amend Motor Vehicle Act to enhance
fines on use of tinted glass and drunken driving.
It was suggested that an ordinance could also be
issued for which the Union Government will be approached.
The DCW suggested all call centre cabs should have GPS
system.
The Commission also requested the government to
provide temporary shelter for rape victims.
It was decided to strengthen the Delhi Commission for
Women to enable it to work on a supplementary mechanism to
ensure women safety, officials said.
The Commission also stressed on the need of a proper
coordination with hospitals so that medical examination of
rape victims could be conducted immediately to avoid chances
of destroying evidence.
Women and Child Welfare Minister Minister Kiran Walia,
Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta and several top officials of
Delhi government were present at the meeting.
PTI
