Women in Haryana Rely on Counselling For Harassment Over FIRs

Haryana cops received 28,299 calls from Jan to June, but only 598 cases were filed at different police stations.

Image used for representational purpose.

(Photo: Susnata Paul/The Quint)

Women in Haryana have reported incidents of crime against them through distress calls to the established police helpline number – 1091, but only a few cases were registered since the complainants mostly relied on “counselling” for the issues faced.

An Indian Express report states that the Haryana Police has received 28,299 calls from January to June 2017, but only 598 cases (2.11 percent) were filed at different police stations and 622 people have been arrested so far.

The complaints range from domestic violence and eve-teasing to stalking and molestation, said the IE report and the month of May saw the highest number of calls – 6,364 followed by June – 6,090, of which only 200 cases were registered and 208 people held.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) OP Singh told IE that “very few women ask for a case to be registered” and that it is “more about counselling in police stations in the presence of parents”.

Lack of confidence in pursuing the case till the end is another reason officials have cited for non-filing of grievances.

There are women who call the helpline but don’t want to lodge cases due to fear. Either they require counselling or just want police intervention to check on the accused at an early stage. But when it comes to getting a case registered, some of them refuse flatly. Then, in about 20 to 30 per cent cases the claims turn out to be false, so we need to verify a lot before lodging an FIR

A DSP-rank officer told IE

Greta Bhukkal, an MLA from Jhajjar, feels otherwise. She said that policewomen do not take such crimes “lightly” and that there is inadequate staff at the stations.

Virender Kundu, father of Varnika who was stalked by a BJP leader’s son in Chandigarh, told IE that the police aren’t “mentally prepared to immediately lodge an FIR”.

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