By Tariq A SofiJammu, Oct 29 (PTI) The graph of violence against womenin Jammu region has shown a marked a decline over the lastthree years, a top police officer said and vowed to continuethe effort to make society a better place for them.
Incidents of rape, kidnapping, molestation, eve-teasingand domestic violence against women are down this yearcompared to those in the previous two years and the trend isreflective of various pro-active measures taken by the stategovernment and the department, Inspector General of Police,Jammu, S D Singh Jamwal told PTI.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, after assuming office, hadissued orders for setting up of four additional women policestations –- two each in Jammu and Kashmir regions -- so thatwomen can seek redressal of their grievances in areas close totheir homes.
In April last year, the government, in an order, hadannounced setting up of the four women police stations, oneeach in Rajouri and Udhampur districts in Jammu and Baramulla,and Anantnag in Kashmir and sanctioned 208 posts (52 for eachwomen police station).
All-women police stations are already functional in Jammuand Srinagar districts and setting up of the four new policestations, which started functioning in May last year,strengthened the efforts to tackle violence against women in abetter way, Jamwal said.
The IGP said 151 rape cases were registered in Jammuregion till the end of September this year against 190 in 2015and 188 last year.
"Of the 151 rape cases, charge sheets were filed in 55cases, while 85 are still under investigation," he said,adding 11 cases were not admitted.
There were 506 cases of kidnapping in 2015 but the numbercame down to 274 till the end of September this year. A totalof 352 cases were registered last year, Jamwal said.
He said five cases of dowry deaths were registered tillSeptember 30, while charge sheets were filed in two cases andthree others were still under investigation.
Last year, six dowry deaths were reported and five suchcases were registered in 2015, the officer said.
He said around 150 cases of cruelty towards women byhusbands and others were registered till September-end against273 in 2016 and 219 in 2015. Charge sheets were filed thisyear in 57 cases, while 87 are still under investigation.
Jamwal said the police have registered around 300 casesof molestation till September. Of these, charge sheets werefiled in 219 cases and 73 were under various stages ofinvestigation.
As many as 377 cases of molestation were registered in2016, while 370 such cases were filed in 2015, he said.
A total of 66 cases of eve-teasing were reported thisyear while 83 such cases were registered last year and 73 theyear earlier, the officer said.
The strength of women police force in the region hasincreased manifold and some of women officers of the statehave been directly recruited as Deputy Superintendents ofPolice through state civil services examination.
A 33-member women police wing headed by a sub-inspectorwas established in the state in 1965 and their duties includedassistance to investigating staff in arrests, searches andinterrogation of women offenders and suspects.
They are also deployed during demonstrations by women andfor screening of women passengers at Jammu and Srinagarairports.
"The decline (in the number of crimes against women) isbecause of the government's efforts and the pro-activeapproach of the police," Jamwal said, adding all policestations in the 10 districts have been directed to show zerotolerance in cases of violence against women.
"The newly set up women police stations made a bigdifference and the credit goes to the officers and the lowerranks. We will continue the good work to make our society abetter place for women and we are hopeful that there will befurther decline in the violence in the coming months," hesaid.
The IGP said the police are engaging the youth in theinitiative, conducting awareness programmes and reaching outto the community leaders over the issue.
"Our officers are visiting colleges and schools fordelivering lectures, meeting the public and listening to theirgrievances. It has had a very good impact," the IGP said,adding the women officers are doing a "wonderful job" ineducating people which has resulted in the decline of violenceagainst women.
"The more we engage, the more it (issue of crimes againstwomen) will remain in focus and the more positive results willbe there. In the months to come, we will see further decline(in the number of such cases," he said. PTI TASNSD.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.