BANGALORE: Taking charge as Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-east), the only woman DCP in the city’s seven divisions, Rohini Katoch Sepat will have her task cut out in the new team headed by Police Commissioner MN Reddi.
Put in charge of the investigation into the rape of a six-year-old girl in a school, Rohini Katoch comes with the experience of implementing women’s safety and outreach programmes that she initiated in her earlier posting as Koppal Superintendent of Police.
“The commissioner explained to us his vision, which includes reaching out to communities and engaging citizens. This will be a major focus during my term,” she told Express.
“Prevention of crime is important, but along with that, we want communities to be fearless, free and confident and come forward to report crimes,” she said.
“It is time women, and any citizen for that matter, stop being someone who is rescued,” she said.
Outreach programmes will be necessary to ensure women’s participation in policing, something that Reddi has been stressing on since he took charge as commissioner.
“We will be covering schools and colleges, and engaging women through citizens’ groups to encourage participation in policing,” she said.
Drive Concludes
The city police completed their four-day drive against eve-teasers, detaining over 500 people.
The South-east division police booked 102 eve-teasers on Tuesday, the East division, 198 people and the North-east division, 42.
Those repeating offences will be booked under the Goonda Act, police officials said.