Women police station fails to serve purpose

Amit Sharma 

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 14

At a time when the City Beautiful is debating the issue of the safety of women following the recent stalking and abduction bid reported by 29-year-old Varnika Kundu, the UT women police station still not registering cases pertaining to the crime against women. Such cases are still being investigated at city police stations, defeating the purpose of setting-up a women police station. 

Vikas Barala, son of Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala, and his friend Ashish Kumar (22) were held for stalking and abduction bid. The case regarding the same was registered at the Sector 26 police station. 

The women cell of the Chandigarh Police was started in 1987 and converted into the Women and Child Safety Unit (WCSU) in 2002. In August 2015, it was upgraded to a women police station.

While dowry cases were already handled by the WCSU, the then IGP RP Upadhyay had announced that all cases related to crime against women would be registered at the women police station. 

In March this year, the UT Administration finally notified that complaints related to crime against women could be filed at the women police station. It was also decided that offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act will also be handled by the women police station.  There are three inspectors, three sub-inspectors (SI), five ASIs and 21 women constables. 

Fact file

The women cell of the Chandigarh Police was started in 1987 and converted into the Women and Child Safety Unit (WCSU) in 2002. In August 2015, it was upgraded to a women police station. In March this year, the UT Administration finally notified that complaints related to crime against women could be filed at the women police station.