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Some lessons from recent violence in Nagpur city

By on March 22, 2025

Some lessons from recent violence in Nagpur city:
* Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram are being increasingly used to incite persons of certain community in couple of hours without any apparent preparation. Similar situation prevailed in riots in Bangalore & Delhi in recent past.
* ⁠Vehicles like tractor trollies full of huge stones were rushed in from neighbouring outside places in a particular direction with a target of attacking particular community
* ⁠Houses identified by तुलसी पौधा and vehicles having Ganesh idols were subjected to brutality & arson
* ⁠Police officers were subjected to violent attacks including by axe , stones and swords
* ⁠swords from ancient period were available with a section of attackers. These continue to be stored unchecked. .
Lessons:
* Continuous monitoring of social media platforms either technically or by being members of groups run by suspected persons
* ⁠enforcing ‘Nakabandi’ to check movement of vehicles & suspicious persons towards a particular direction suddenly
* ⁠keeping adequate reserve police squads equipped with riot control equipment including helmets, shields, tear gas , and weapons to meet any contingency in sensitive police stations
* ⁠have ‘police mitra’ in huge numbers who can inform police about suspicious developments in advance and also work with police during riots
* ⁠police officers should not rush to such spots without helmet and adequately prepared , else they are victims and sustain serious injuries or even deaths
* ⁠constant dialogue with sensible leaders to avoid flaring up of tempers
* ⁠instruct corporation officers to ensure no construction material is allowed on roads as the same can be used as missiles
* ⁠remove road blockades including tyres regularly as it hinders movement of police, fire brigade and ambulances in emergency
* ⁠continuous preventive action against known bad elements who take disadvantage of such situations and create ruckus
* ⁠have regular mock drills , once in six months , by police even when there is peace to face such violent situations
Police also need to be more equipped during the month of Ramzan as most of the riots have taken place during this period. This is allegedly linked to incitement in the name of battle of Badr, where on 17 th day of Ramazan Prophet Mohammad had attacked his enemies at Badr.


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Need for Public Safety Act in Maharashtra

By on March 22, 2025

Need for Public Safety Act in Maharashtra

Praveen Dixit

DGP (Retired) Maharashtra State

On 12 September, 2004, two Maoist groups, the Maoist Communist Centre and the CPI (ML), (Peoples’ War), merged to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist). In the decades since, the movement, once confined to the dense forests of central and eastern India, has found a new battleground, the cities.

There are different opinions about the term ‘urban naxals’. But to dispel misconceptions about this phenomenon, it is necessary to study Maoist literature. The Maoist ideology, long sustained by rural guerrilla tactics, has adapted to urban landscapes, where it exploits democratic freedoms to undermine the very foundation of the Indian state. This is not a matter of academic debate but a pressing national security concern. Maharashtra, a State with deep history of left-wing extremism, now faces an urgent need for legislative action. The proposed Maharashtra Special Public Safety Act seeks to address this evolving threat, not by stifling dissent but by preventing insidious efforts to dismantle democracy from within.

To understand the gravity of the situation, one must look beyond rhetoric and into the strategic doctrine of Maoists’ insurgency. The CPI (Maoist) outlines its urban strategy in “Strategy and Tactics of the Indian Revolution”, a manifesto that has been seized repeatedly during counter insurgency operations. This document describes a three-pronged approach: the Party, the Army, and the United Front. The last of thee -the United Front- is the most potent weapon in the urban theatre. It operates through student groups, labour unions, cultural organisations, and civil rights collectives, all ostensibly legitimate but serving a deeper revolutionary cause. Their goal is to erode faith in connotational democracy, creating conditions ripe for armed struggle.

Unlike, the jungle warfare of the past, urban Maoism functions in a subtler, more insidious ways. It recruits students, unemployed, disenfranchised and even professionals into its ideological fold. It infiltrates legitimate protests, converting them into flash-points oof radicalisation. It spreads anti-state narratives through art, theatre and academia. The Maoist cultural front, epitomized by banned groups like the “Chetana Natya Manch’ (CNM) uses songs and plays to indoctrinate youth, as documented in multiple intelligence reports. Formal Maoist cadres like Milind Teltumbade, who began as labour union leader in Maharashtra’s coal-belt, exemplify this trajectory from activism to insurgency.

India has stringent ant-terror laws including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Yet, these laws primarily target direct acts of terrorism. The legal framework struggles to address the subtler, preparatory stags of urban Maoist activities. Courts have often found it difficult to convict individuals, associated with Maoist front organisations unless a direct link to valence is established. This legal loophole allows insurgent networks to operate with impunity, cloaked in the language of civil liberties.   

In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, proactive bans on Maoists -affiliated groups led to a sharp decline in insurgent activities. Maharashtra, however, had lagged in taking similar action. According to a Union Ministry report, Maharashtra harbours the highest number of Maoist front organisations- 64 in total. Intelligence assessments indicate that the Maoist movement, stifled in rural areas due to successful counter-insurgency efforts, is shifting focus to cities. The materials seized in recent raids confirm that urban warfare is now a central tenet of Maoist expansion strategy.

 

Necessary safeguard

Critics argue that any expansion of state power poses a risk to civil liberties. While vigilance against misuse is necessary, equating a targeted counter-insurgency law with authoritarianism is a fallacy. The proposed Maharashtra Special Public Safety Act includes robust checks and balances to prevent abuse. An Advisory Board, led by Members appointed by the judiciary, will oversee bans on organisations. Senior police officers, not junior officials susceptible to political pressures, will be responsible for authorising arrests and filing chargesheets.

Most importantly, the law is designed to differentiate between genuine dissent and orchestrated subversion. Freedom of speech remains sacrosanct. However, speech is weaponised to incite violence, recruit insurgents delegitimize, democratic institutions, it ceases to be a matter of free expression. This distinction is crucial. Maoist organisations do not merely oppose policies; they seek to dismantle the entire constitutional framework. Their goal, as articulated in their own documents, is to replace parliamentary democracy with a totalitarian ‘Peoples’ Government’. The ultimate aim is not incremental reform but revolution by force.

Looming Threat

Maharashtra has fraught Maoism in its rural heartlands for over four decades, but urban Maoism has flourished unchecked for nearly fifty years. The failure to recognise this shift has allowed the insurgency to adapt, metastasizing into the urban fabric. The consequences of inaction are dire. If left unaddressed, Maharashtra risks becoming the nerve-centre of an urban insurgency that could destabilize governance on a massive scale.

The necessity of the Maharashtra Special Public Safety Act is not a matter of ideological preference but of national security. A democracy cannot afford to be naïve about those who seek its destruction. Vigilance is not repression. It is the price of survival in an age where insurgency wears the mask of activism. The battle against Maoism has moved from the jungle to the city, and our laws must evolve to meet the challenge.

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Juvenile Justice: Legal frameworks and Rehabilitation of children in conflict with law

By on March 19, 2025

Juvenile Justice:

Legal frameworks and Rehabilitation of children in conflict with law

Praveen Dixit

(www.praveendixit.com)

 

In following lines, it is proposed to underline the heinous crimes committed by juveniles. Thereafter, legal provisions to tackle this sensitive issue would be discussed. Efforts made and which need to be made to rehabilitate these juveniles would be explained with case studies. Every effort needs to be made by everyone to integrate these juveniles by making all out efforts to provide a chance to reform these youngsters not only for their wellbeing but also for the benefit of the society at large.

   Memories of horrible incidents such as Nirbhaya episode in Delhi are never forgotten. Unfortunately, similarly terrible happenings are being reported from urban as well as rural areas and from all states without any exception. On few occasions, it is an incident of gang rape on helpless especially abled destitute, small girl belonging to scheduled cate or scheduled tribe, or rape on a girl after deceiving her with false identity. In some instances, the kids are not even able to narrate who committed the atrocities, but keep on complaining of severe body /stomach pain. Invariably, videos are made of such heinous happenings and if the victim is alive, she is constantly blackmailed and the heinous act is repeated several times. In most of these cases, the perpetrator is grandfather, step-father, cousin, relative or a person claiming to be close to the family. The offender may be working as security guard, housekeeping staff in housing society/school, cleaner, driver or conductor in school buses.   If the victim refuses to marry, or there is apprehension that the identity of the accused may be disclosed, she is murdered ruthlessly and the body is disposed of beyond recognition in a remote place. Persons who commit these offences against children are dealt with under the provisions of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). A section of these acts is committed by juveniles in the age group of 16-18. List of these offences committed by juveniles include robbery, snatching, gang rape, rape, robberies, murders, attempt to murder, thefts and many more.  Recently they have been noticed indulging in cybercrimes including hoax calls and sending alarming fake e-mails threatening the school authorities and law enforcing agencies.  Separately, hit and run incidents due to rash and drunk driving by juveniles from nouveau riche families in expensive cars resulting in death of innocent pedestrians or two-wheeler riders are being increasingly reported. In some left wing affected parts in Dandakaranya young persons are noticed joining militants.

                            Invariably, these incidents result in hue and cry and electronic and print media demand explanations from law enforcing authorities and seek explanation from the government for its effectiveness. Many a times, the public anger goes to the extent of demanding immediate hanging of the accused even though the suspect may be juvenile. National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) which compiles data of these offences from all states reveals increasing number of incidents involving juveniles in the age group of 16 to 18 as suspects. As per the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA) 2015, a person below the age of 18 is considered as juvenile. The JJA further provides for minors in the age group 16 – 18 years to be treated as adults in the case of heinous crimes. Heinous crimes are those offences where punishment is more than seven years. Decision regarding an offence whether it is heinous or otherwise is taken by Juvenile Justice Board consisting of Judicial Magistrate First Class, and two other social workers out of which one is a woman. The object of the Act is to ensure the needs of children and protect their human rights fully. The second part deals with the care, protection and rehabilitation of children in need. Protection includes protection from harm to the life of a child, even from the parents and relatives. The children/victims should not be produced before multiple authorities and protect the interest of the victims of the sexual offence. While legal provisions to deter the offenders are adequate, effective implementation of the same by all agencies without getting influenced by extraneous sources is highly imperative.

Important factors which contribute in making children juvenile include absence of care and affection from parents because of divided family, large family and poverty resulting in absence of facilities. In view of urbanization, and easy availability of access to internet, children witness what they should not or get addicted to porn/violence videos. Many of them are also addicted to watch online games which encourage them to commit suicide or shooting as adventure. Today, social media platforms including Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegraph and many others are attracting young minds towards darknet which is full of spreading falsehoods, radicalising them to fundamentalism, and encouraging them to indulge in investing large amounts in bitcoins. There are several incidents when young girls have fallen prey to flirting and have been deceived with ulterior motives. Several countries including USA, Canada, Australia are contemplating seriously to make enactment where children below 14 would be prevented from having free access to internet. Australia has already enforced such enactment. Social platforms are likely to implement these reforms in these countries at the earliest. India also needs to make strident call in the same direction.  There is adverse impact of advertisements and serials on TV/OTT and cinemas. After watching films with violence/ porn, children have made efforts to follow these in reality and ended up in remand homes. In red light areas, women force children to go outside at the time of business and these children fall in bad companies. Children become addicts to bad habits including drugs, drinks, smoking and other objectionable materials. Adolescent children try to impress their female friends and to satisfy various requirements particularly under the influence of drinks/drugs, do not hesitate to commit thefts/heinous offences. Either due to anger against their parents for petty reasons, or because of luring by someone including women to provide an opportunity to work as model, higher education, job or marriage, thousands of very young girls under the age of 18 have been noticed leaving their parents. Very few of these are traced and it is speculated that these might be ending in some brothels or might have been killed or transported to war zones including Syria, Afghanistan and other places.

Analysis of undertrial juveniles reveals from their statements that most of them were from deprived background. All of them had either dropped out from school or they were never regular to school. As a result of lack of education or no vocational skills, many of them were working as casual labourers. Due to dysfunctional families, these children had no mental or social support from their families. Family situation of undertrials was characterised by poverty, children forced into labour, inadequate parenting and their families were under continuous stress or there was sudden crisis like death, desertion etc. NCRB data underlines increasingly children from affluent families, having parents who do not pay attention to their upbringing, are indulging in heinous crimes, due to drug addiction. In addition, religious fanatics are noticed to be providing large funds and using these youth to deceive young girls and converting them under compulsion.

Though these children might have come in conflict with law, it is necessary that police officers remain sensitive to their plight. As Commissioner of Police in Nagpur, I ensured that these children are provided counselling by social workers. Those who were eligible to attend schools, were sent there. Others were provided vocational skills including driving. They turned out to be responsible persons and contributed to the income of their families. Similar initiatives are taken by many police officers. It is imperative that even after the change of unit-in-charge, these well minded initiatives need to be continued for a long time.  It should be an effort of police officers to move the Juvenile Justice Board for action against parents of such children. Police officers need to strive to safeguard these juveniles from adult offenders who might be forcing such children to indulge in these heinous  offences. Invariably, assistance should be taken from voluntary organisations, or child psychiatrists, child guidance clinics, social care workers, and probation officers to cure the cause behind such incidents. Police officers should also visit shelter homes/remand homes frequently to ensure adequate support and security is available at these places.  Efforts should be made to detect such children at pre-delinquent situation and isolate destitute and neglected children. In a town, geographic areas which are breeding grounds of delinquency may be identified and these should be regularly patrolled. Initiatives including organising recreational programmes, sports tournaments, holiday camps, band displays create enthusiasm among one and all. While working as DGP, Maharashtra, we had initiated regular interaction with radicalised youth including young girls. Assistance was taken from seniors in their community and we persuaded them to realise the dangers of joining ISIS. In spite of these, there were few instances when these youth managed to leave for Syria and were caught there or got killed in war-zones.

To conclude, holistic approach, combining enforcement with compassion and proactive intervention, can help rehabilitate at-risk youth and prevent them from becoming entangled in criminal activities.

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शहरी माओवाद: म्हणून हवा विशेष जनसुरक्षा कायदा!

By on March 19, 2025

शहरी माओवाद: म्हणून हवा विशेष जनसुरक्षा कायदा!

प्रवीण दीक्षित

निवृत्त पोलीस महासंचालक

               12 सप्टेंबर 2004 माओईस्ट कम्युनिस्ट सेंटर आणि सीपीआय (एमएल) (पिपल्स वॉर) या दोन संघटनांचे विलिनीकरण झाले. कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी ऑफ इंडिया (माओवादी) चा जन्म झाला. अर्बन नक्षल संकल्पनेविषयी वेगवेगळे मतप्रवाह आहेत. पण, हा गैरसमज दूर करण्यासाठी प्रथम माओवादी साहित्याचा अभ्यास गरजेचा आहे. जेणेकरून याबद्दलचे सर्व गैरसमज आणि मनातील शंका सहज दर होतील आणि जनसुरक्षा कायद्याचे महत्त्वही अधोरेखित होईल. यात विरोधी विचारांचा आवाज दडपण्याचा हेतू नाही, तर राष्ट्रविरोधी शक्तींच्या देशविघातक कृतींपासून देशाला वाचवण्याचा प्रामाणिक प्रयत्न आहे.  

अर्बन नक्षल म्हणजे काय ?

            कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी ऑफ इंडिया (माओवादी) पक्षाचे स्ट्रॅटेजी अॅण्ड टॅक्टीस ऑफ इंडियन रिव्हॉल्युशन हे पुस्तक वेगवेगळ्या चकमकी दरम्यान जप्त करण्यात आले. ते आजही डिजिटल माध्यमातून उपलब्ध करुन दिले जाते. या पुस्तकाचा भाग-2, जो माओवाद्यांच्या कार्यनितीवर आधरित आहे, त्यातील प्रकरण क्रमांक 13 माओवाद्यांची शहरी भागातील कार्याची दिशा स्पष्ट करणारे आहे. यात माओवादी संघटनांनी 3 अस्त्रांना जादुई अस्त्र संबोधले आहे. ती म्हणजे पार्टी, संयुक्त मोर्चा आणि सैन्य. यातील संयुक्त मोर्चा (युनायटेड फ्रंट) हे सर्वाधिक प्रभावी आणि क्रांतिकारी अस्त्र म्हणून वापरले जाते. याचा मूळ उद्देश देशातील प्रस्थापित संवैधानिक व्यवस्थांविरुद्ध जनसमुदायाचा सहभाग. तो हेतू साध्य झाल्यानंतरच सशस्त्र क्रांतीचा मार्ग पत्करला जातो. यातील हा संयुक्त मोर्चा म्हणजेच, सोप्या भाषेत अर्बन नक्षल किंवा शहरी माओवादी.

शहरी माओवादाची कार्यपध्दती

             यात प्रामुख्याने विद्यार्थी, बेरोजगार युवा, परिपूर्ण विकास झालेले लोक, महिला, जंगलात राहणारे नागरिक, भूमिहीन गरीब शेतकरी अशा सामाजिक घटकांवर लक्ष केंद्रित केले जाते. यासाठी विषय निवडून कृती समिती, संप समिती, संघर्ष समिती, आंदोलनांची आखणी केली जाते किंवा काही वाजवी आंदोलनांमध्ये शिरकाव / घुसखोरी केली जाते. आपल्या समस्या सशस्त्र क्रांतीशिवाय सुटूच शकत नाहीत, असे धडे दिले जातात आणि त्यातून गृहयुद्धासारखी परिस्थिती निर्माण केली जाते. एवढेच नाही तर सैन्य आणि अर्धसैन्य दलात त्यांची घुसखोरी करुन त्यांना घातपाती कार्यासाठी प्रवृत्त केले जाते. नक्षली चळवळीसाठी शस्त्र, दारुगोळा, औषधी, तांत्रिक मदत, दळणवळण यंत्रणा, इलेक्ट्रॉनिक साहित्य, प्रचारप्रसार, नवीन नेतृत्त्वाची उभारणी आणि नवीन भरती इत्यादी कामे ही शहरी नक्षलवादाच्या माध्यमातून केली जातात.

             उदाहरणच सांगायचे झाले, तर मिलिंद तेलतुंबडे हा यवतमाळ जिल्ह्यात वणी भागात एक तरुण युनियन नेता होता. तो वेस्टर्न कोलफिल्डसमध्ये कार्यरत होता. नक्षलींच्या सीसी सदस्यांनी त्याला बल्लारपूर परिसरात माओवादी विचारसरणीत अंतर्भूत केले. 1998 मध्ये तो भूमिगत झाला आणि 2005 मध्ये सीसी सदस्य झाला. त्याने विदर्भातील तरुणांना मोठ्या प्रमाणात आपल्या जाळ्यात ओढले. सुदर्शन रामटेके हा सार्वजनिक बांधकाम विभागात काम करणार्या एका कर्मचार्याचा मुलगा. तो माओवादी चळवळीत सामिल झाला. प्रारंभी त्याने केंद्रीय समितीसाठी स्टेनो म्हणून काम केले. पण, सुदैवाने त्याचा चळवळीसंबंधीचा दृष्टिकोन स्पष्ट झाला आणि त्याने आत्मसमर्पण केले. राजुर्यात शिवाजी महाविद्यालय आहे. तेथे देशभक्ती युवा मंचच्या माध्यमातून राजा ठाकूर हा माओवादाशी जोडला गेला. नंतर तो गडचिरोलीत एका चकमकीत मारला गेला. संतोष शेलार (चळवळीतील नावपेंटर), प्रशांत कांबळे (चळवळीतील नावलॅपटॉप) अशी कितीतरी उदाहरणे आहेत. पुण्यातील झोपडपट्टी परिसरात सांस्कृतिक आघाडीच्या नावाने असेच जाळे टाकण्यात आले. तरुणांना जाळ्यात ओढायचे आणि भीमाशंकरच्या जंगलात प्रशिक्षणासाठी घेऊन जायचे.

कायद्याची गरज का?

              मुळात हे लक्षात घेतले पाहिजे की, आपला देश हा महामानव, भारतरत्न डॉ. बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर यांनी तयार केलेल्या राज्यघटनेच्या मजबुत पायावर उभा आहे आणि माओवाद नेमकी हीच राज्यघटना नष्ट करण्याचा प्रयत्न करीत आहेत. बहुपक्षीय लोकशाही, निवडणुका, मतदानाचा अमूल्य अधिकार, विचारस्वातंत्र्य, प्रसार माध्यमांचे स्वातंत्र्य, न्यायव्यवस्था हे माओवाद्यांना मान्य नाहीत. सर्व फुटीर शक्ती एकत्र आणणे आणि त्यातून देशाच्या प्रगतीला बाधा आणणे, कायम अशांतता ठेवणे हेच त्यातून साध्य केले जाते.

            माओवादी फ्रंटल संघटनेची कार्यपद्धती वैविध्यपूर्ण आणि गुंतागुंतीची आहे. सामाजिक संघटना, राजकीय पक्ष विरहित घटक आहेत, तेथे माओवादी हे जनसामान्यांमध्ये अस्तित्त्वात असलेल्या संवैधानिक यंत्रणा आणि एकूणच लोकशाही प्रक्रियेविरुद्ध रोष/असंतोष निर्माण करतात. असे गुन्हे हे युएपीए कायद्याच्या कक्षेत येत नाहीत. विविध न्यायालयांनी सुद्धा अशा घटनांचा युएपीए अंतर्गत मर्यादांवर बोट ठेवले आहे. त्यामुळेच अशाप्रकारचा स्वतंत्र कायदा ही राज्याची गरज आहे. त्यातून खर्या अर्थाने अशा घटनांमध्ये कायदा आणि सुव्यवस्थेची स्थिती हाताळण्यास मदतच होणार आहे.

             मा. मुख्यमंत्री यांनी विधानसभेत जे निवेदन केले, त्यातही परिशिष्टातील उद्देश आणि कारणे यात स्पष्टपणे नमूद केले आहे की, हा कायदा माओवादी फ्रंटल संघटनांच्या क्रियाकल्पांवर ज्याचा उद्देश जनसामान्यांमध्ये संविधान आणि संवैधानिक व्यवस्थेविरोधात असंतोष निर्माण करणे आणि त्यातून सशस्त्र माओवादी विचारांचा प्रसार करणे हा आहे, त्याला पायबंद घालण्यासाठीच हा कायदा आहे. महाराष्ट्रातील एका दैनिकाने एका लेखात असे नमूद केले की, बेकायदेशीर कृत्याच्या व्याख्येत एखाद्या व्यक्तीने एखादी कृती करुन, बोललेल्या किंवा लिखित किंवा चिन्हाद्वारे केलेल्या कृतीचाही समावेश कायद्यात आहे. परंतू, याठिकाणी आवर्जून हे सांगेन की, माओवाद्यांचा प्रचारप्रसार करण्यात चेतना नाट्यमंच (ज्यावर छत्तीसगड सरकारने बंदी घातली आहे) या संघटनेचा मोठा वाटा आहे. आत्मसमर्पित नक्षल्यांच्या चैकशीतून हे उघड झाले की, 70 टक्के तरुण हे चेतना नाट्यमंचाच्या माओवादी क्रांती मंचाच्या नाटकातून, गाण्यांमधून माओवादाकडे आकर्षित झाले.

           आता हा कायदा भारतीय संविधानाच्या कलम 19 च्या चैकटीत बसणारा आहे. अभिव्यक्ती स्वातंत्र्य अमर्याद असलेच पाहिजे. पण, ज्या अभिव्यक्ती स्वातंत्र्यामुळे सार्वजनिक सुरक्षा, सुव्यवस्था आणि राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा धोक्यात येईल, त्याला अभिव्यक्ती स्वातंत्र्य म्हणता येणार नाही. आणि नक्षलवादात प्रामुख्याने निवडणुका, न्यायालय, विधीमंडळ अशा स्तंभांना जनसामान्यांमध्ये बदनाम करणे आणि त्यातून लोकशाहीच्या विश्वासार्हतेवर प्रश्नचिन्ह निर्माण करणे, हीच कार्यपद्धती आहे. या कायद्याची महाराष्ट्रात सर्वाधिक गरज का आहे? केंद्रीय गृहमंत्रालयाचा एक अहवाल आहे, ज्यात माओवादाचा प्रसार करणार्या सर्वाधिक 64 इतक्या फ्रंटल संघटना या महाराष्ट्रात आहेत. एकतर महाराष्ट्रात वेगाने होणारे शहरीकरण आणि दुसरीकडे जंगलांतील कारवायांमध्ये आलेले मोठे अपयश यामुळे नक्षलवादाचा मोठा प्रसार आता शहरांतून होतो आहे. गेल्या काही वर्षांत नक्षल्यांकडून जे साहित्य जप्त करण्यात आले, त्यातून आता पुढची लढाई ही शहरी युद्ध आणि शहरांमध्ये माओवादी संघटनांचा विस्तार याचे सज्जड पुरावे मिळालेले आहेत. माओवाद्यांच्या राष्ट्रीय स्तरावर कार्यरत केंद्रीय कार्यकारिणीत सुद्धा हे निर्णय झालेले आहेत.




कायद्यातील संरक्षणात्मक तरतुदी

             आंध्र आणि तेलंगणा राज्यात जंगलातील कारवायांमध्ये घट झाली. पण, त्या राज्यांनी किमान 12 ते 14 फ्रंटल संघटनांवर बंदी टाकली. कारण, तेथे सुद्धा शहरी नक्षलवाद मोठ्या प्रमाणात वाढतो आहे. तिसरे राज्य छत्तीसगड जर यात जोडले तर किमान 48 संघटनांवर बंदी आहे. प्रामुख्याने सांस्कृतिक आघाडी, विद्यार्थी आघाडी, नागरिक हक्क समिती, वकील संघटना अशा नावाने संघटना काढून माओवादाच्या प्रसाराला हातभार लावला जातो. कारवाई झाली की, या संघटना स्वतःचा बचाव करायला जातात आणि मग सामाजिक कार्यकर्ते, मानवाधिकार कार्यकर्त्यांवर कारवाई झाली, असा अपप्रचार केला जातो. पण, वस्तुतः ते बंदी असलेल्या सीपीआय माओवादी संघटनेचे सदस्य असतात. त्यांचे प्रमुख लक्ष्य प्रदीर्घ युद्ध जिंकणे आणि 2047 मध्ये लालकिल्ल्यावर सीपीआय माओवादीचा झेंडा फडकाविणे हा आहे.

            केवळ आणि केवळ अशाच संघटनांसाठी हा कायदा आहे. कायदा सुव्यवस्था हाताळताना ज्या तरतुदी अन्य कायद्यांमध्ये नाहीत, अशा तरतुदींचा हा कायदा आहे. या कायद्यावर जे विविध आक्षेप व्यक्त झाले, त्यांनी हा कायदा आधी समजून घेतला पाहिजे. त्यातील काही बाबी अशाः

1) एखाद्या संघटनेवर बंदी घालायची असल्यास त्यासाठी सल्लागार मंडळाची तरतूद आहे. हे सल्लागार मंडळ            

   न्यायालय नियुक्त करीत असते. त्यामुळे आपोआपच सरकार या कायद्याचा दुरुपयोग करु शकत नाही.

 

2) एखाद्या संघटनेवर बंदी घातल्यानंतर कारवाई करण्यासाठी किंवा गुन्हा दाखल करण्यासाठी पोलिस          

     उपमहानिरीक्षक दर्जाच्याच अधिकार्‍्याची परवानगी अनिवार्य आहे.

 

3) आरोपपत्र दाखल करण्यासाठी अपर पोलिस महासंचालक दर्जाच्या  अधिकार्‍्याची परवानगी आवश्यक आहे. या  तरतुदींमुळे कनिष्ठ अधिकारी किंवा राजकीय दबावाचे आरोप नगण्य ठरतात.

 

            महाराष्ट्राने 40 वर्ष माओवादाशी जंगलात लढा दिला. पण, शहरी भागात 50 वर्षांपासून कार्यरत माओवादी संघटनांवर कोणतीही कार्यवाही केली नाही. परंतू अलिकडच्या काळात शहरी भागात नक्षलींचे जाळे मोठ्या प्रमाणात वाढल्याने त्यावर कारवाई ही अत्यंत महत्त्वपूर्ण आहे. ती वेळीच केली नाही, तर राज्याच्या सामाजिक व्यवस्थेसमोर गंभीर संकट निर्माण होऊ शकते. संविधान आणि लोकशाही मानणार्‍्या माओवादी फ्रंटल संघटनांवर कारवाई हाच महाराष्ट्र विशेष जनसुरक्षा कायद्याचा मुख्य गाभा आहे.

 

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Juvenile Justice: Legal frameworks and Rehabilitation of children in conflict with law

By on March 10, 2025

Juvenile Justice:

Legal frameworks and Rehabilitation of children in conflict with law

Praveen Dixit

(www.praveendixit.com)

In following lines, it is proposed to underline the heinous crimes committed by juveniles. Thereafter, legal provisions to tackle this sensitive issue would be discussed. Efforts made and which need to be made to rehabilitate these juveniles would be explained with case studies. Every effort needs to be made by everyone to integrate these juveniles by making all out efforts to provide a chance to reform these youngsters not only for their wellbeing but also for the benefit of the society at large.

   Memories of horrible incidents such as Nirbhaya episode in Delhi are never forgotten. Unfortunately, similarly terrible happenings are being reported from urban as well as rural areas and from all states without any exception. On few occasions, it is an incident of gang rape on helpless especially abled destitute, small girl belonging to scheduled cate or scheduled tribe, or rape on a girl after deceiving her with false identity. In some instances, the kids are not even able to narrate who committed the atrocities, but keep on complaining of severe body /stomach pain. Invariably, videos are made of such heinous happenings and if the victim is alive, she is constantly blackmailed and the heinous act is repeated several times. In most of these cases, the perpetrator is grandfather, step-father, cousin, relative or a person claiming to be close to the family. The offender may be working as security guard, housekeeping staff in housing society/school, cleaner, driver or conductor in school buses.   If the victim refuses to marry, or there is apprehension that the identity of the accused may be disclosed, she is murdered ruthlessly and the body is disposed of beyond recognition in a remote place. Persons who commit these offences against children are dealt with under the provisions of The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO). A section of these acts is committed by juveniles in the age group of 16-18. List of these offences committed by juveniles include robbery, snatching, gang rape, rape, robberies, murders, attempt to murder, thefts and many more.  Recently they have been noticed indulging in cybercrimes including hoax calls and sending alarming fake e-mails threatening the school authorities and law enforcing agencies.  Separately, hit and run incidents due to rash and drunk driving by juveniles from nouveau riche families in expensive cars resulting in death of innocent pedestrians or two-wheeler riders are being increasingly reported. In some left wing affected parts in Dandakaranya young persons are noticed joining militants.

                            Invariably, these incidents result in hue and cry and electronic and print media demand explanations from law enforcing authorities and seek explanation from the government for its effectiveness. Many a times, the public anger goes to the extent of demanding immediate hanging of the accused even though the suspect may be juvenile. National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) which compiles data of these offences from all states reveals increasing number of incidents involving juveniles in the age group of 16 to 18 as suspects. As per the Juvenile Justice Act (JJA) 2015, a person below the age of 18 is considered as juvenile. The JJA further provides for minors in the age group 16 – 18 years to be treated as adults in the case of heinous crimes. Heinous crimes are those offences where punishment is more than seven years. Decision regarding an offence whether it is heinous or otherwise is taken by Juvenile Justice Board consisting of Judicial Magistrate First Class, and two other social workers out of which one is a woman. The object of the Act is to ensure the needs of children and protect their human rights fully. The second part deals with the care, protection and rehabilitation of children in need. Protection includes protection from harm to the life of a child, even from the parents and relatives. The children/victims should not be produced before multiple authorities and protect the interest of the victims of the sexual offence. While legal provisions to deter the offenders are adequate, effective implementation of the same by all agencies without getting influenced by extraneous sources is highly imperative.

Important factors which contribute in making children juvenile include absence of care and affection from parents because of divided family, large family and poverty resulting in absence of facilities. In view of urbanization, and easy availability of access to internet, children witness what they should not or get addicted to porn/violence videos. Many of them are also addicted to watch online games which encourage them to commit suicide or shooting as adventure. Today, social media platforms including Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegraph and many others are attracting young minds towards darknet which is full of spreading falsehoods, radicalising them to fundamentalism, and encouraging them to indulge in investing large amounts in bitcoins. There are several incidents when young girls have fallen prey to flirting and have been deceived with ulterior motives. Several countries including USA, Canada, Australia are contemplating seriously to make enactment where children below 14 would be prevented from having free access to internet. Australia has already enforced such enactment. Social platforms are likely to implement these reforms in these countries at the earliest. India also needs to make strident call in the same direction.  There is adverse impact of advertisements and serials on TV/OTT and cinemas. After watching films with violence/ porn, children have made efforts to follow these in reality and ended up in remand homes. In red light areas, women force children to go outside at the time of business and these children fall in bad companies. Children become addicts to bad habits including drugs, drinks, smoking and other objectionable materials. Adolescent children try to impress their female friends and to satisfy various requirements particularly under the influence of drinks/drugs, do not hesitate to commit thefts/heinous offences. Either due to anger against their parents for petty reasons, or because of luring by someone including women to provide an opportunity to work as model, higher education, job or marriage, thousands of very young girls under the age of 18 have been noticed leaving their parents. Very few of these are traced and it is speculated that these might be ending in some brothels or might have been killed or transported to war zones including Syria, Afghanistan and other places.

Analysis of undertrial juveniles reveals from their statements that most of them were from deprived background. All of them had either dropped out from school or they were never regular to school. As a result of lack of education or no vocational skills, many of them were working as casual labourers. Due to dysfunctional families, these children had no mental or social support from their families. Family situation of undertrials was characterised by poverty, children forced into labour, inadequate parenting and their families were under continuous stress or there was sudden crisis like death, desertion etc. NCRB data underlines increasingly children from affluent families, having parents who do not pay attention to their upbringing, are indulging in heinous crimes, due to drug addiction. In addition, religious fanatics are noticed to be providing large funds and using these youth to deceive young girls and converting them under compulsion.

Though these children might have come in conflict with law, it is necessary that police officers remain sensitive to their plight. As Commissioner of Police in Nagpur, I ensured that these children are provided counselling by social workers. Those who were eligible to attend schools, were sent there. Others were provided vocational skills including driving. They turned out to be responsible persons and contributed to the income of their families. Similar initiatives are taken by many police officers. It is imperative that even after the change of unit-in-charge, these well minded initiatives need to be continued for a long time.  It should be an effort of police officers to move the Juvenile Justice Board for action against parents of such children. Police officers need to strive to safeguard these juveniles from adult offenders who might be forcing such children to indulge in these heinous offences. Invariably, assistance should be taken from voluntary organisations, or child psychiatrists, child guidance clinics, social care workers, and probation officers to cure the cause behind such incidents. Police officers should also visit shelter homes/remand homes frequently to ensure adequate support and security is available at these places.  Efforts should be made to detect such children at pre-delinquent situation and isolate destitute and neglected children. In a town, geographic areas which are breeding grounds of delinquency may be identified and these should be regularly patrolled. Initiatives including organising recreational programmes, sports tournaments, holiday camps, band displays create enthusiasm among one and all. While working as DGP, Maharashtra, we had initiated regular interaction with radicalised youth including young girls. Assistance was taken from seniors in their community and we persuaded them to realise the dangers of joining ISIS. In spite of these, there were few instances when these youth managed to leave for Syria and were caught there or got killed in war-zones.

Each unit should make an effort to have authentic data related to the children in conflict with the law, particularly their age and number. A Working Group called ‘the Commission for the Application of Alternative Measures’ under the auspices of UNICEF titled ‘Rights of Children in Conflict with the Law 2007’ has made recommendations for developing diversion programmes. These include:

  1. Juvenile offenders must admit to their crime;
  2. Juvenile offenders should not be placed in custody to participate in diversion programmes;
  • Juvenile offenders are entitled to a court procedure if they or their guardians disagree with the diversion measures;
  1. Juvenile offenders may withdraw from the diversion process ay any time and opt for the formal court procedure.

The diversion programme includes seven components: victim-offender mediation, admonition, local community corrections councils, joint family meetings, circle trials, juvenile courts, and community service.

The UNICEF working group report argues that while crimes are often seen as offences against the state, they should also be viewed from the victim’s perspective, seeking reconciliation. It suggests allowing juveniles to make amends, the society can help them reintegrate faster, without a criminal record, which would help them avoid impediments in their future employment or social inclusion.

A high-level group constituted by NHRC in their meeting organised on 4 Feb2025 suggested following measures:

  • Make information on proceedings involving Children in Conflict with the Law available on a portal, without revealing their identities;
  • Establish a cadre of child protection officials in all States;
  • Identify and delineate responsibilities within the child protection workforce, and fill vacant positions to strengthen the child care mechanism;
  • Conduct a social audit of Child Care Institutions, ensuring adequate manpower, including counsellors;
  • Encourage intuitional contribution to engage children in useful activities;
  • Strengthen the Legal Aid Mechanism for Children in Conflict with Law;
  • Increase ‘Community Service’ as a correctional measure for child offenders;
  • Revamp rehabilitation and social reintegration programmes for Children in Conflict with Law;
  • Introduce joint training for stakeholders involved in child welfare, focusing on the behavioural aspects of child offenders;
  • Collate and publicise best practices for the welfare of child offenders across the country;
  • Increase funding and staff recruitment for Child care Intuitions;
  • Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline the process.

To conclude, holistic approach, combining enforcement with compassion and proactive intervention, can help rehabilitate at-risk youth and prevent them from becoming entangled in criminal activities.

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Reference

NHRC’s Human Rights Newsletter Volume 32/Number 03/March 2025

 

 

 

 

 


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पोलिसांवरील ताण व त्यासाठी उपाय

By on February 16, 2025

पोलिसांवरील ताण व त्यासाठी उपाय

प्रवीण दीक्षित

पोलीस महासंलक(निवृत्त)

मुंबई पोलिसांच्या उपलब्ध आकडेवारीनुसार 2022 पासून आता पर्यंत कर्तव्यवर असताना 379 पोलिसांचा मृत्यु झाला आहे. 379 पैकी 334 पोलिसांचा नैसर्गिक मृत्यु झाला आहे. तर 23 जणांचा अपघाती व 22 जणांनी आत्महत्या केल्याची नोंद आहे. पोलिस विभागातील वरिष्ठ अधिकार्‍यांशिवाय मुंबई विद्यापीठातील समाजशास्त्र विभागाच्या प्राध्यापक व विद्यार्थ्यांनीही पुढे येऊन ह्यातील प्रत्येक घटनेच्या पार्श्वभूमीची आणि कारणांची चिकित्सा करणे आवश्यक आहे. अशाच घटना महाराष्ट्रातील इतर भागातही सतत होत असतात.

  देशात कायदा व सुव्यवस्था चांगली रहावी, शांतता असावी व त्यातून जनसामान्यांना स्वतःचा व राष्ट्राचा विकास करता यावा ह्या उद्देशाने शासनाने पोलीसदलाची निर्मिती केली आहे. परंतु प्रत्येक समाजात अनेक कारणांमुळे गुन्हे करणारे, समाजामधे धर्म, जात, प्रांत, भाषा, लिंग अशा अनेक कारणांनी असंतोष निर्माण करणारे, दंगली घडवू आणणारे व त्यातून आपला राजकीय स्वार्थ पूर्ण करणारे अनेकजण असतात. अशा ह्या समाजविघातक, राष्ट्रद्रोही व्यक्तींचा समाजातील सामान्य नागरिक फारसा विरोध करू शकत नाहीत. त्यांना संघटितपणे, कायद्याच्या आधारे, त्यांनी सभ्यपणाचा घातलेला बुरखा दूर करून न्यायालयापुढे सादर करणारे व त्यांना नयायालयामार्फत शिक्षा करणारे पोलीस दल आवश्यक आहे व ते पोलिसांचे आद्य कर्तव्य आहे. परंतु पोलीसांच्या कामामधे ढवळाढवळ करणे, गुन्हेगारांना, समाजविरोधकांना पकडू न देणे, पकडले असल्यास त्यांना सोडायला लावणे, गुन्हेगारांना कायद्यातील पळवाटा शोधून शिक्षा होऊ न देणे ह्यासाठी समाजातील अनेक घटक हे हिरिरीने प्रयत्न करताना दिसतात. पोलीसांचे मनोधर्य खच्ची करणे, त्यांनी केलेल्या कर्तव्याबद्दल त्यांना निलंबित करणे, त्यांना पदोन्नती मिळू न देणे ह्यासाठी अनेकजण प्रयत्न करत असतात. स्वतःची मनमानी चालू ठेवता यावी हयासाठी स्वतःच्या हातचे बाहुले होऊन वागणार्‍या पोलीस अधिकार्‍यांना आपल्या जवळच्या पोलिस ठाण्याच्या प्रमुखपदी नेमणूक करण्यासाठी स्वतःला लोकप्रतिनिधी म्हणणार्‍या अनेक व्यक्ती काम करत असतात. आपण केलेल्या गुन्ह्यांकडे दुर्लक्ष व्हावे व आपल्याराजकीय विरोधकांना कायद्याच्या माध्यमातून त्रास देता यावा ह्यासाठी ह्या पोलीस अधिकार्‍यांचा वापर केला जातो. आपल्या मनाविरुद्ध व कायद्याप्रमाणे वागणार्‍या अधिकार्‍यांना वेळोवेळी बदलून त्यांना अकार्यकारी व कमी महत्त्वाच्या पदांवर तडकाफडकी बदलले जाते. पोलीसांचा पाणउतारा करण्यासाठी बदली व निलंबन ही दोन शस्त्रे प्रामुख्याने पाजळली जातात. वरिष्ठ पोलीस अधिकार्‍यांनीही सर्व कर्मचारी हे आपले सहकारी आहेत असेच त्यांच्याशी वर्तन ठेवणे गरजेचे आहे. थोड्याशा कारणाने त्यांना शिक्षा करणे, अपमान करणे हे शिस्तबद्ध खात्यास लाजिरवाणे आहे.

ह्याशिवाय समाजातील गुन्हेगार व्यक्ती वाहतुकीचे नियम पाळायला सांगणार्‍या पोलिसांवर हल्ले करतात. गुन्हेगाराला पकडायला गेलेल्या पोलीस चमूवर जीवघेणा हल्ला करून त्यांना पळवून लावले जाते वा ठार मारले जाते. अनेक गुन्हेगारांनी बेकायदेशीररीत्या जमवलेल्या पैशातून अनेक सिनेमे काढले आहेत; ज्यात पोलीसांचा पांडु हवालदाार, नेभळट, लाचखोर, लाचार अशाप्रकारे वर्णन केले जाते. ह्या सर्व गोष्टींमुळे पोलीसांचे मानसिक खच्चीकरण व्हावे हा उद्देश असतो.

पोलीसांना आवश्यक अशी सर्वसोयींनी युक्त सरकारी घरे निर्माण करण्यासाठी निधी उपलब्ध करुन न देणे, असलेल्या घरांची डागडुजी न करणे ह्यामुळे मुंबई, ठाणे, पुणे सारख्या महानगरातील पोलीसांना व त्यांच्या कुटुंबियांना अत्यंत खराब स्थितीत जगावे लागते. रोज 12 तास काम, सुट्टी मिळण्याची कमी शक्यता ह्यामुळे पोलिस कर्मचार्‍यांचे आरोग्य धोक्यात येते व ते व्यसनाधीन बनतात. वेळच्यावेळी जेवण न मिळणे, शांत झोप न मिळणे, व्यायाम करायला सोयी नसणे ह्याचा परिणाम होऊन पोलिसांना सतत ताणतणावात दिवस काढायला लागतात.   

ह्यावरील उपाय म्हणून पोलीसांच्या कामाच्या वेळा कमी करणे, जिथे काम असेल त्या ठिकाणीच त्यांची राहण्याची, व्यायामाची, झोपायची सोय करणे, पौष़्टिक आहार परवडणर्‍या किमतीत उपलब्ध करणे, त्यांच्या कुटुंबियांसाठी सुरक्षित ठिकाणी आवश्यक त्या सोयींनीयुक्त घरे बांधणे गरजेचे आहे. सल्लागारांची मदत घेऊन मानसिकरीत्या दुर्बळ पोलीसांना वेळोवेळी वैद्यकीय मदत देणे जरूरीचे आहे. कोणताही पोलीस कर्मचारी अथवा अधिकारी नेहमी समूहात राहील ह्याकडे विशेष लक्ष देणे आवश्यक आहे. आत्महत्या प्रतिबंधक helpline (DISHA) 1056 ची माहिती प्रत्येक पोलीसस्थानकात लावणे सक्तीचे करण्यात यावे. प्रशिक्षण काळात तसेच वेळ मिळेल तेव्हा रामायण, भागवत ह्यासारख्या ग्रंथांचे परिशीलन करण्यास आध्यात्मिक गुरुंच्या सहाय्याने प्रोत्साहन देणे आवश्यक आहे. पूर्वी ह्यातील गोष्टी सहज कानावर पडत असत. त्यातून फार मोठी आध्यात्मिक मदत मिळत असते व त्यामुळे अपयशाने माणूस खचून जात नाही.

 त्याशिवाय पोलीसांची टिंगल टवाळी करणार्‍या सिनेमांवर समाजाने जाहीर बहिष्कार घालणे, पोलीसांना त्यांच्या कामात मदत करण्यासाठी प्रत्येक सक्षम स्त्री-पुरुष यांनी पुढे येऊन पोलीस-मित्र म्हणून काम करणे जरुरीचे आहे. गणपती, मोहरम, नवरात्र उत्सव ह्यासारख्या उत्सवांसाठी पोलिसांनीही पोलीस मित्रांना प्रशिक्षण व प्रोत्साहन देणे गरजेचे आहे. लोकांनीही त्यात समजूतदारपणा दाखवणे जरूरीचे आाहे. राजकीय नेतृत्त्वानेही पोलीसांच्या कायदेशीर कामामध्ये ढवळाढवळ न करणे, पोलीसांची बदली अथवा निलंबन दबावाखाली न करणे अत्यंत आवश्यक आहे. कायदा व सुव्यवस्था राखताना पोलिसांनी नियमाप्रमाणे कारवाई केली तरीही त्यांना निलंबित करावे ही मागणी कितपत योग्य आहे ह्याचा धर्म, जात, पक्ष ह्यांच्या पलीलडे जाऊन विचार करणे आवश्यक आहे. त्यामुळे पोलीसांनाच मदत होईल असे नव्हे तर समाजाला व राष्ट्रालाही जगात विकसित देश बनविणे शक्य होईल.

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Tele-medicine facility for prisoners

By on January 26, 2025

Tele-medicine facility for prisoners

 

Prisoners across the country are facing number of problems. One of the main problems is over-crowding due to increase in numbers which is much more than the capacity of the present arrangements. As a result of over-crowding, several health-related issues are emerging continuously. Most of these prisoners are under trials and continue to be so for a prolonged period in view of the inordinate delays in completing the trials. Ensuring sound health of the prisoners is State responsibility. Whenever any prisoner complains about health issues, the Medical Officer present in prison attends to the same and in cases required refers the prisoner to nearby Civil hospital or medical college for further treatment. To take the prisoner to medical facility, it is mandatory to have adequate police guard and police vehicle for safety of the prisoner.

It is noticed, that in view of large numbers of prisoners, and due to their pressing requirements, the police are notable to carry out this responsibility in time. Police vehicles are also not available at number of times. This gives rise to serious complaints from prisoners. It also breeds corrupt practices to jump the queue. Section of prisoners also demand reference to medical facility to avoid the rigours of prison and threaten the medical officers to admit them in hospital.

In a separate development, Ministry of Health has launched National Health Mission. Under this scheme, every medical college has been equipped with web cameras and the doctors on duty facilitate tele-medical counselling to those who are needy and stationed remotely. The facility is provided by charging rupees hundred per person.

In prisons, Ministry of Home Affairs in consultation with Ministry of Law and Justice has launched video conferencing facility in prisons. Through this every prison is equipped with video cameras and supporting network. This facility is used for conducting e-trials whenever required. This is functioning satisfactorily.

Taking advantage of technology, video conferencing scheme was launched in all prisons in Maharashtra from 2016-2019. All prisons were linked to nearby medical colleges through video conferencing. Medical officer in prison would prepare detailed note about heath requirements of every prisoner needing reference to medical expert from nearby medical college and email the note to the concerned expert in advance. After examining the same, the medical expert fixed appropriate time slot to advise the prisoner patient in the presence of medical officer from the prison. The expert then recommended certain course of treatment and a record was kept accordingly. In case the expert felt, he used to advise physical presence of the prisoner patient and the same was arranged by prison authorities. Under this arrangement, nearly 20,000 prisoner patients were provided medical treatment. The prisoners were highly satisfied with the arrangements and recorded their sense of relief from time to time.

Following the outbreak of Corona 2019, the arrangement came to sudden halt, in view of the tremendous burden on all medical colleges. The practice remains discontinued even though the outbreak is now behind.

For reasons, explained above, it is imperative that under the guidance of Ministry of Health and Ministry of Home Affairs, all State governments and Union Territories consider immediate steps to implement this arrangement in all prisons and video link these to nearby medical colleges/hospitals to promote welfare of the prisoners, who are the responsibility of the State.

 


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Initiatives against atrocities on Women

By on January 21, 2025

Initiatives against atrocities on women

Praveen Dixit

DGP (Retired) Maharashtra

As per the statistics available with National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) important crimes against women include a) rape and murder, b) gang rape, c) rape, d) feticide, e) dowry deaths, f) abatement to suicide, g) acid attacks, h) domestic violence in the form of harassment by husband or his relatives, i) abduction and kidnapping, j) sexual harassment, and k) honour killing by parents/relatives. With increase in the use of digital space incidents of cybercrimes in the form of financial frauds, marital frauds, fake digital arrests, sexual harassment are increasing geometrically.

Government of India attaches highest importance to provide justice to victim women and children. In a historical step, government has repealed archaic criminal laws and implemented Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam with effect from July 2024 throughout the country. In these victim centric laws, great importance is being attached to technological innovations and all electronic communications are recognised as evidence. It further encourages e-FIRs, recognises electronic evidence, issuing summons through electronic measures and electronic trials. It also provides for trial of accused in absentia, as many accused after deceiving women, go abroad to escape from the clutches of law. In order to provide immediate succour to victims in instances of emergency, facility of dialling 112 /112 India app has been launched throughout the country. Response to this from police has been brought down to less than ten minutes in most of the urban areas. In addition, cyber helpline 1930 is operational apart from platform www.cybercrime.gov.in to register even anonymous complaints from anywhere.  To expedite trails, directions have been issued to complete investigation in two months in instances of rape, establishing of fast-track courts, trails in camera and prohibition to disclose identity of the victim in any electronic and print media. Facility of representing the victim in trial is a new and welcome introduction from July 2024. Government also provides legal aid and compensation to victims of rape to ensure their rehabilitation.

While welcoming these important steps, a lot needs to be done to make women aware about their legal rights. System also needs to be developed to encourage the victims to come forward to launch the complaints and provide them moral support till completion of the trial. This can be possible if recognised councillors are available in every subdivision to assist the victims.   In addition, following initiatives need early implementation.

  • All complaints pertaining to sexual harassment, rape etc must be recorded through video camera only. This would reduce chances of manipulation by police as well as by the complainant subsequently. The recording would be in the language and words as mentioned by the complainant and thus the chances of undue interference would het eliminated.
  • To ensure zero pendency, dedicated courts should be established and preferably these should function in two shifts.  
  • In cases of sexual harassment, charge sheet should be submitted within 24 hours from the complaint. That would ensure early trial and also reduce chances of interference or influence on the victims. I had started this practice while working as DGP in Maharashtra and that resulted in salutary impact in improving the morale of the victim and creating trust among women in general.
  • In incidents of rape, the accused should not be made free as in several instances such accused have indulged in the same grave offences while on bail. In cases where the accused is released on bail, stern preventive action should be taken including bond from the relatives of the complainant, and with women sureties
  • Panel of lawyers including cyber experts to be made available as prosecutors.
  • Continuous education scheme should be implemented in all schools and colleges against sexual harassment and cyber offences. In addition, training in unarmed combat should be made mandatory in schools and colleges.
  • The scheme of dialling 112/ 112 India app needs to be given wide publicity through radio and electronic media on day-to-day basis. At present this facility is not much known even in metropolitan cities such as Chennai.
  • Strict access control in all academic institutes should be made mandatory to prevent outsiders from assaulting unsuspected young women.

Implementation of above initiatives along with technological innovations would certainly reduce incidents of sexual violence against women.

 

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