Women recount horror stories, say helpline, PCR cops don’t help

NEW DELHI: Business management student Ritika Sharma's regular evening commute became a nightmare when three men began harassing her and her friend on a moving bus. But her attempts to reach the Delhi Police helpline were futile. And even when she decided to publicly reprimand the culprits, fellow passengers offered no help.

SONU MEHTA/HT PHOTOBlack Day was observed by protesters at Jantar Mantar on Thursday.

Sharma's is not an isolated case. Several women who have in the past been victims of sexual harassment feel helpless. Not only are helplines busy, but many deserted stretches have little or no police presence.

"My college is in Dwarka and there have been so many times when I’ve been stalked. I’ve tried to contact police's helpline, but the number is usually busy," said Arti (name changed), a student of Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU).

Delhi Police officers, however, claim that all their helplines were functioning smoothly. "We have several helplines where women can call in times of distress. We always take action in case of complaint," said a senior police official.

But this isn't the only thing these women complained of. Many also said the police officials in PCR vans also refuse to help. "A few men passed lewd comments at my daughter and me when we got off at the Chhatarpur Metro Station a few days ago. When I approached a nearby PCR van, the officials told me that as there was no evidence, they could not do much," said Mamta Misra, a resident of Vasant Kunj. AT JANTAR MANTAR A modest group of protesters continued to camp at Jantar Mantar. Many of them had called for a Bharat Bandh on Thursday, but the bandh got little response. "People have proved their indifference to this cause. Once 15-20 days pass, people begin to lose interest," said Anil Kumar, a protester.

However, for the students from Lady Hardinge Medical College, an attempt to demand justice for the victim was thwarted by the police. Their silent walk in protest to their college with placards was not allowed as the police 'had orders to prohibit any form of protest outside Jantar Mantar'.

Source: Hindustan Times, Delhi Edition, 04-01-2013

Dark stretches a haven for criminals

Police identify 1,300-odd roads in national Capital

NEW DELHI: Poorly-lit stretches in the Capital or those with defunct streetlights serve as a haven to anti-social elements who easily escape after committing such crimes. And Sunday’s gangrape of a 23-year-old girl has once again highlighted this very horrific fact.

The Delhi police had identified 1,300-odd stretches that were either poorly lit or had nonfunctional streetlights in May this year. In 2011, there were only 650 such roads. The Delhi police said crimes against women mostly take place in such areas.

The police are planning to send a list of such stretches to civic agencies once again, urging them to repair the streetlights. "We have decided to send a reminder to all agencies as they have failed to rectify the problems that we had highlighted earlier," said a police official.

According to the survey, some of such stretches are — M-block GK I, Aurobindo Marg, Chirag Delhi stretch, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Marg in Hauz Khas, etc.

The survey has identified stretches that come under the jurisdiction of PWD, the three municipal corporations, NDMC.

“We will issue a direction to all our all the districts in the city to carry out a survey in their respective areas. Many areas under the jurisdiction of a particular police station have dark stretches and a few in bordering areas don't even have a streetlight," said an officer.

Police said poorly-lit stretches were the reason for rising criminal activities.

Source: Hindustan Times, Delhi Edition, 19.12.2012