Kochi: A study done by the Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, commissioned by the home department, shows that 70% of the women (from a sample size of 59) were afraid to go to the police station alone, showing a lack of faith in the criminal judicial system.
The absence of full-time women police personnel at stations has been identified as a major deterrent. The study, ‘Accessibility of women to criminal justice system with special reference to Ernakulam rural district’, is part of a larger one covering all districts in the state.
The respondents included victims, judicial officers, public prosecutors and social activists from the rural police district limits. The respondents were selected on the basis of cases that coming under Section 376, Section 498 (a) and Section 354 of the IPC.
“Only studies of a few districts have been submitted so far. When we compile all the reports, we will be able to get a perspective on how to make the police stations woman-friendly. While there is no major fear or phobia, the absence of woman police officials has been raised by many of those interviewed. Many judicial officers also spoke of the need to sensitise the police and judicial departments,” said ADGP B Sandhya, who coordinated the project.
She admitted that there was a huge shortage of women personnel and, in the backdrop of rising crime against women, it has become necessary to not just have ‘vanitha’ police stations but also ensure their presence at all stations.
The sample study interviewed 35 women complainants – 19 respondents had cases under Section 354, 14 under Section 498A and two under Section 376.
Seven judicial officers, nine public prosecutors or assistant public prosecutors and eight women activists were also interviewed for the study. The victims said that they would not go to the police station alone and chose to take a neighbour or relative with them. They also faced ridicule for having registered complaints.
Contrary to the general image of the police, about 88.5% said that the police did not use indecent language while questioning. About 45.71% of them were not questioned by women police officers.
“We found that there is need to still incorporate a lot of changes in the police system. The respondents spoke of the need for more women police personnel as it would provide a kind of care and support system for the victim,” said M P Antoni, project coordinator, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences.
@ Agency report.
