Night of shame continues…..

Following these developments, there is empirical data to show that more women are coming forward to report sexual offences committed against them. The most welcome change is that women in India are finding their voice following the Nirbhaya case. They talk about their daily travails in dealing with men, both in public and private spaces, and come forward to report crimes. A cynical view persists in some quarters, though, that nothing has changed after the bus rape case of 2012.

The Nirbhaya case led to an outcry that changed our laws and made them stronger with respect to crimes against women. The focus of the public wrath was the criminal justice system, and particularly the police. Pitched battles were fought between the protestors and the police in which several on both sides were injured and one policeman even lost his life.

In over 96 per cent of rape cases and crimes against women the perpetrators are known to the victims. Most crimes of this nature are committed within the four walls of homes or offices, by close relatives, colleagues and friends. Should we not pause and ponder if blaming the government or the police for these crimes is the most sensible thing to do? Doesn’t the cure for this malaise lie elsewhere? Will endless police-bashing help the situation in any meaningful way?

Undoubtedly, those were trying times for the Delhi Police in general and for me in particular. But this cannot possibly be compared to the trauma and tragedy that the victim and her family suffered. The public outcry was natural, but regrettably, the situation got politicized and lumpenized, as such cases always do. As far as the police response was concerned, at the end of it all, we emerged stronger and wiser. This case was yet another befitting example of how the Delhi Police can stand up to challenges competently and promptly.

To be continued…..