Dikshit meets home minister hours after ‘suicide’

Hours after the main accused in the December 16 gang rape was found dead in his Tihar jail cell, chief minister Sheila Dikshit had a discussion with Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde during which she talked in detail about the incident and security in jail premises.

Hours after the main accused in the December 16 gang rape was found dead in his Tihar jail cell, chief minister Sheila Dikshit had a discussion with Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde during which she talked in detail about the incident and security in jail premises.

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Although Delhi Police falls under Shinde’s ministry, Tihar jail’s administration is the Delhi government’s responsibility.

Dikshit informed Shinde of the magisterial inquiry ordered by her government into Ram Singh’s death, sources said. They added that Dikshit also raised the issue of law and order in the Capital and steps required to ensure better security for women during the discussion.

She, however, claimed the meeting was a routine affair. “It was a routine meeting. I keep coming here. The meeting had been scheduled in advance,” Dikshit told reporters after emerging from the meeting.

She also asked the minister to set up a help desk for women and demanded that more women personnel be posted in police stations. “She expressed her concern as there has been no let-up in crimes against women despite the Centre’s assurances after the December 16 incident,” a source said.

Vijay Kumar Malhotra, the leader of the Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, demanded a “thorough” inquiry into the alleged suicide of the main accused in the gang rape. “There is a need to investigate how the main accused in such an important case managed to hang himself. There is a need for a high-level enquiry,” Malhotra told reporters.