No home in state safe, says Pawar

MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar came down heavily on the state government and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for the recent rise in

MUMBAI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar came down heavily on the state government and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for the recent rise in rape cases, saying no home was safe. Pawar said the rapes exposed the absence of law and order in the state.

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Pawar, who visited Osmanabad on Sunday, avoided meeting a 16-year-old rape victim to ensure that her identity was kept secret. The minor was allegedly raped by a police sub-inspector at gun point on Saturday.

Instead, Pawar met the district collector and superintendent of police.

The former CM said they have demanded that the case be fast tracked by appointing a special public prosecutor. He said the investigation should be done by a senior woman IPS officer.

He lashed out at Fadnavis, holding him responsible for failing to maintain law and order. “We need a person who is capable of handling the home department,” Pawar said questioning Fadnavis’ capabilities.

“The existing laws are strong enough to tackle such situations, but our system has lost its fear,” he said.

“No home is safe when protector becomes perpetrator. Rape and crimes rose under the nose of Home Ministry. A policeman has committed a heinous crime in Osmanabad. It shows complete absence of law and order in the state,” Pawar tweeted later.