Police start poster drive to deter potential criminals

Delhi Police have begun a new drive to invoke fear among those who harass women. They are putting up posters and banners, warning of jail term for such offenders.

Delhi Police have begun a new drive to invoke fear among those who harass women. They are putting up posters and banners, warning of jail term for such offenders.

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For instance, singing lewd songs or similar actions can attract a punishment of three months as well as a fine.

The police also want to make women aware of their rights as most of them tend to ignore such comments from men.

Posters and banners are being put up at all bus stops, buses, Delhi Metro, autorickshaws, etc.

Delhi Police officials said the awareness campaign was launched to educate people about crime against women. The move comes nearly a month after six people raped a 23-year-old on board a moving bus.

The police have also sought help from NGOs to prepare stickers, which will be pasted inside buses.

“We have prepared 200 boards about the various provisions of the law relating to crime against women. We have already started putting them up at various bus shelters,” said Ajay Chaudhry, additional CP (southeast), Delhi Police.

“We have tied up with various NGOs that have designed a few stickers to be pasted inside vehicles,” a police official said.

These posters and banners carry helpline numbers women can call during emergency.

“We met police officials and suggested that NGOs working for the safety of women should be roped in. The idea is to develop a strategic way of addressing crime against women,” said Kalpana Viswanath from Jagori.

The Delhi government’s child and welfare department has decided to sensitise police officials in the control room as women call the 100 number rather than the woman helpline more often.

The Delhi Police commissioner has also written to the women and child development department, asking them to provide training to police officials.

“We have received the letter and are going to hold workshops to train police officials in dealing with distress calls and the procedures they should follow,” said Kiran Walia, minister of women and child development department.