A force with compassion

The abandonment of an 80-year-old mentally challenged woman reportedly by a police team attached to the Vanitha police station at midnight in the city recently once again brings to focus the need to sensitize police personnel on compassion and human values.

The incident caused a public outcry resulting in the Kerala State Womens Commission registering a case and the Additional Director-General of Police (North Zone) N. Shankar Reddy seeking a report. Subsequently three police personnel including two women were suspended by the Commissioner of Police based on an inquiry report.

However, it has to be pointed that the Koyilandy Circle Inspector C.R. Haridas came forward as a Good Samaritan to help the woman.

He along with two other police personnel who were on their way to Koyilandy in plainclothes were eyewitnesses to the incident.

The woman had to be sheltered at the Koyilandy police station at night. Later her relatives were informed and she was taken home the next day. The inquiry found that local people had handed over the woman who was roaming in the city to the Vanitha Police station so that she would be dropped at her home.

Many feel that the police department regardless of coming up with various projects, including the Janamaithri Police Scheme (Community Policing Scheme) to refurbish its image, has not been gender sensitized and made people-friendly.

A study report on women victims of crimes in Kerala 2012-13 conducted by the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi, for the State police Chief says that crimes against women in the State are found in all the regions, among all religions and among women of all age groups in proportion. All the crimes which were reported in earlier times still occur, while new ones are coming to light due to the technological advances.

Incidentally, records with the police reveal that cases of atrocities against women have been on the rise in Kozhikode city for the past five years.

As many as 654 cases of atrocities against women were registered in 2013. The figures were 525 (2012); 556 (2011); 425 (2010) and 409 (2009).

Gone with the power

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A force with compassion