Gang-rape cases on rise, women cops unfair: DGP

He was speaking at a state-level workshop on gender-based violence at the police headquarters in Patna

Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar on Tuesday came down heavily on women in state police force for ”shamefully” dealing with victims of rape cases, while expressing concern over increasing frequency of gang-rapes in the state.

Bihar DGP Vinay Kumar during a press conference in Patna. (Santosh Kumar/HT)

“Two decades ago, gang-rape incidents were rare and attracted considerable public uproar, but nowadays the frequency of such incidents has increased, leading to a growing tolerance level in society,” Kumar said.

He was speaking at a state-level workshop on gender-based violence at the police headquarters in Patna. He also claimed that only around 2 per cent of cases related to sexual harassment and violence are reported in Bihar.

The DGP strongly reprimanded the SHO and constables of the women’s police station. Referring to the cases of Motihari, Jehanabad and Sitamarhi, he said many police officers were showing high-handedness even in sensitive cases. The DGP also expressed serious concern over the increasing incidents of gang rape, gang culture of youth and social media crime.

During the function, he referred to a report in which a woman police officer of Motihari was accused of demanding ₹9,000 from the gang-rape victim in the name of conducting a medical examination. The DGP said that the woman SHO had also taken a rented car from the victim’s family and roamed around in the same vehicle for four days.

“Police uniform is meant to help people. Not to hurt the poor. Such police personnel should be stripped of their uniform. In many cases, women SHOs have been seen in uniform and brandishing pistols, which is also shameful,” he added.

The DGP gave stern warning to all the police personnel of the state. Those who leave the first wife and marry another after becoming a sub-inspector or constable have no right to stay in the job,” he warned. He said many Bihar Police personnel and officials have also been found involved in dowry cases. “Those who are involved in a social evil like dowry have no right to be in the police service. Such people should be relieved immediately,” he added.

The DGP said that policemen should work with sensitivity instead of showing their attitude while donning a uniform and a pistol. He said that in many cases, complaints have been received that victims and their families in women’s police stations are treated harshly and spoken rudely. “If you have got uniform and pistol, it does not mean that you become arrogant,” said the DGP, adding the police personnel should talk to the victims in the softest way possible.

The DGP gave instructions to the police officers that they should not be limited to the police station level, and go up to the panchayat level and conduct awareness campaigns among the people. The DGP stressed that gender-based violence is not just a law and order issue but a serious social issue. “Unless the mindset of the society changes, crime against women cannot be completely eliminated,” he added.

Two decades ago, gang-rape incidents were rare and attracted considerable public uproar, but nowadays the frequency of such incidents has increased, leading to a growing tolerance level in society. He also claimed that only around 2% of cases related to sexual harassment and violence are reported in Bihar, attributing the low rate to police inaction and suppression of victims.

Expressing concern over recent crimes, the DGP also referred to the Motihari student murder. “These days, groups of 10-15 youths are ganging up and promoting themselves on social media. There is a dispute over a female friend and in the same dispute, the student was killed. Parental responsibilities should be increased. You need to keep an eye on your children’s activities,” he added.

Referring to the incidents in Jehanabad and Sitamarhi, the DGP questioned the working style of the police officers. He said that a family in Jehanabad had given ₹50 lakh dowry for the daughter’s wedding and was waiting for the baraat, but later came to know that the boy was already married. “In another case in Sitamarhi, a police officer was accused of marrying another woman despite being already married,” the DGP said, adding that strict action should be taken in such cases, but the attitude of Sitamarhi SP appeared to be soft. He made it clear that the police would have to take strict action in cases related to harassment and cheating with women.