New Delhi, December 7: Taking cognizance of the situation and in wake of the recent Hyderabad gangrape and murder case, the Unnao incident, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has taken a major step pertaining to the states. MHA has sent advisory to all the states and Union territories, asking them to ensure the safety of women and use all modern tools and training put at their disposal by the ministry.
The MHA advisory, signed by Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and sent to all state Chief Secretaries on Thursday. It reminds them of the various advisories the ministry has sent to them on women’s safety in the past and seeks personal intervention of the chief Secretary to ensure safety of women. The advisory stated that the safety of women and girls are kept on high priority for the government. While the Government has taken steps to strengthen legislative provisions to deal with offence in a stringent manner, it is important for the police also to be easily accessible to deal with any complaint on crime against women in timely and pro-active manner.
The advisory has asked states to ensure strict compliance with the provision in law to file Zero FIRs in event of a cognizable offence, including sexual assault on women. It is noted that any failure in this regard by any police is punishable offence. States and UTs were also requested to undertake refresher courses for police personnel on this essential aspect. This is necessary to ensure that police personnel are much more responsive and sensitive in handling complaints on crimes against women and girls.
The advisory has asked state police forces to increasingly use the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences (ITSSO) portal. lTSSO enables every state and UT to monitor the completion of investigation in serious sexual offences in the prescribed two-month time period. ITSSO is based on Crime and Criminal Tracking and Networks System (CCTNS), which MHA has said should be updated regularly.
Reiterating another past advisory, the letter has asked the states to strengthen their forensic departments. “Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) and Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan National Institute of Criminology and Forensic Sciences (LNJN NICFS) are regularly conducting training courses for police officials, prosecutors and medical officers on handling of forensic evidence in sexual assault cases. BPR&D is also undertaking courses on sensitivity in investigation of crime against women. States/UTs needs to ensure at the earliest, that all officials concerned mandatorily undergo training in these courses, ” Bhalla has said.
The advisory has also asked states to utilise the National Database on Sexual Offenders (NDSO) for police to facilitate better investigation. This tool has database on more than 7 lakh sex offenders. It also reminded states that are lagging in activating the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) to pull up their socks. The ERSS has one single number 112 for all emergencies. ERSS is accessible through call, SMS, email and 112 India mobile app. It is operational in 27 States/UTs in the country.