The task force, which was set up to study crime against women in Assam, has stressed the need of a calibrated approach to check the growing crime against women as it has identified a disturbing trend that in majority of the cases of sexual harassment culprits were known to victim.
The task force, which was headed by additional director-general of Assam police (CID) Mukesh Sahay, additional director-general of Assam police (communication) Kula Saikia, director of social welfare department Rajiv Lochan Duarah and deputy secretary Seemrekha Bhuyan, in its recommendation has expressed satisfaction that more and more women victims are coming forward to register cases of sexual harassment.
Pointing out that crime against women at public places may be stopped, the task force has admitted that it would be challenging for the police forces to stop the crimes committed inside family and by known persons.
The task force has recommended that all the police station of the state should have women components in its set up but pointed out that the Assam police do not have even 10 per cent women in its police force.
The task force has also recommended that the strength of women magistrates and prosecutors has to be increased besides sensitising them in handling the cases related to crime against women.
Proposing a fast track court in each district to expedite the trials in crime against women, the task force, however, lauded the performance of Virangana, a women police squad raised by the Assam police deployed in Guwahati now, in stopping the crime against women.
The task force has suggested deployment of such women police squad in all the districts to check eve-teasing and other crimes against women. In order to ensure conviction of culprits, which was found to be very poor in the state, the task force has suggested special training for investigating officers.
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