Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, July 3: It may sound incredible but it is a fact that Jammu and Kashmir Government doesn’t have meager Rs 28 lakh to ensure expeditious investigation into crimes against women but it can spend crores of rupees on unproductive activities. In this way, the State has exhibited that crime against women, which is a major area of concern for all the country, is a non-issue in Jammu and Kashmir.
Since crime against women has assumed alarming proportion in the country, the BJP-led NDA-Government soon after assuming the office at the Centre found it imperative to initiate such steps, which will leave no room for those committing crime against the fairer sex to go unpunished.
Accordingly, the Union Home Minister vide DO letter dated December 31, 2014 dashed a communication to all the State Governments including Jammu and Kashmir to set-up Investigative Units for Crimes Against Women (IUCAW). The MHA clearly indicated in the letter that these units would be established on 50:50 cost sharing basis with the States having liberty to set up these units at Police Districts of their choice where the incidents of crimes against women are higher than other Police Districts.
Vide this DO letter, the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police J&K were conveyed about sanction of five such Investigative Units for Crimes Against Women so that these units can assist the local police in investigation of heinous crimes—rape, dowry death and acid attack besides providing additional functionalities of proactive policing, intelligence gathering, tackling organized crime, monitoring proper implementation of the legislative provisions, help in awareness generation and social participation in crimes against women.
The proposed structure of each unit headed by Additional Superintendent of Police and comprising of 15 personnel out of which 1/3rd will be women was also conveyed. It was also stated that each unit will consist of four sub-units headed by an Inspector which will form the core investigative unit and two Deputy Superintendents of Police headed by the ASP will function in the supervisory capacity.
Thereafter, the MHA on January 5, 2015 again dashed a communication drawing the attention of the Chief Secretary and DGP towards the sanction of five IUCAW with the mention that salary component of each unit in the proposed set-up has been calculated as Rs 56 lakh per year and the Union Government will provide Rs 28 lakh per year on production of documentation about the salary paid.
However, J&K has not acted upon the directives about establishment of IUCAWs despite lapse of six months and clearly indicated that it doesn’t have Rs 28 lakh to ensure speedy probe into crimes against women. No decision has been taken till date despite the fact that State has the full flexibility on whether to create new posts or to designate the existing strengthen with only condition being 1/3rd should be women only.
“Due to failure of the Government to make available Rs 28 lakh per annum, the objective behind IUCAW remains un-fulfilled”, sources regretted. The objective behind these units was to augment the investigative machinery in relation to the heinous crimes against women, instill confidence and encourage women to come forward and lodge their complaint, improve gender ratio in the State Police which is adversely impacting effective implementation of the legislations relating to women etc.
When contacted, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Headquarters, Dr S P Vaid said, “we have not received any go ahead signal from the State Government till date without which it is not possible to establish the units”. He, however, expressed hope that these units would become reality in near future.
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