New Delhi, Oct 21: In the backdrop of a "spate" of rapes in the capital, the National Commission for Women (NCW) today held a meeting with Delhi Police Commissioner R S Gupta and demanded effective steps to eliminate the "feeling of insecurity" among the fair sex. Gupta faced a barrage of questions from the NCW members and women's activists who sought 'pro-active' policing that is 'sensitive' to the sufferings of the fair sex. They also expressed dissatisfaction over effectiveness of the measures taken after the rape of a medical student last November.

"Women are not feeling safe in Delhi. Police must ensure their safety through effective measures. A message should go that instils confidence among women," NCW chairperson Poornima Advani told reporters after a three-hour meeting called in the wake of rape of a Swiss diplomat on October 14. While Gupta refused to speak to mediapersons, Advani said police had taken steps after the rape of Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) student last year "but these are insufficient because sexual assaults are still taking place".

She attributed responsibility of preventing such crimes to Delhi administration also, asking it to undertake proper mapping of the capital to identify "crime-prone zones" and ensure proper lighting of campuses to prevent such incidents. "There has to be coordinated and holistic approach of all the agencies concerned," the NCW chairperson said.

Pointing out that rapists were not afraid because of "poor conviction rate", she favoured amendments in the laws to make them deterring and setting of "a proper time-frame for investigation and trial". Bureau Report