Opposition Congress today asked the BJP-led Haryana government to equip the all-women police stations of the state with modern gadgets and weaponry in order to fight crime against women in an effective manner.
"While women police stations have been set up, they lack gadgets and other necessary equipment like modern weapons, including assault rifles. In such a scenario, how can we expect these police stations to fight crime against women in an effective manner?" senior Congress leader and former state minister, Geeta Bhukkal, said during the Question Hour in the state Assembly here.
Bhukkal had sought to know the number of 'Mahila' police stations set up in the state till date, sanctioned strength of women staff in these stations, cases registered per police station and those solved, challans produced in courts etc.
Replying to the question, state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said 22 Mahila police stations have been set up in the state so far.
These all-women police stations were inaugurated in August 2015 by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Sharma also informed the House that the sanctioned strength of women staff for these stations in all 22 districts of the state is 1,640 with the number of other staff members being 701.
The Mahila police station's territorial jurisdiction is of the entire district to investigate crime against women, he said, adding these stations are almost exclusively manned by women police officers, except for a few male colleagues for auxiliary duties.
"The Mahila police stations have been created to have a more women-friendly environment, thus encouraging the victims to come forth with their complaints and ensure that they are dealt with priority and sensitivity," Sharma said.
The minister said a four-digit toll-free women helpline is operational while a counselling centre has been established within each Mahila police station to deal with complaints of domestic harassment, family disputes, dowry demands etc.
Free legal aid is also provided to women victims, he informed the House.
Sharma said out of the 45,000-strong state police force, 3,204 are women officers.
Responding to a supplementary question raised by Bhukkal,
the minister said the process of recruiting over 1,000 women constables was on.
"As many as 3,483 FIRs have been lodged till date in the women police stations and appropriate action, including putting up challans had been taken in these cases," he said.
However, the Congress leader said she was not satisfied with the reply and sought to know how these all-women police stations would work in an effective manner in the absence of modern gadgets and weapons.
Taking a dig at Bhukkal, state Health Minister Anil Vij said, "The Congress members are in the habit of not leaving the mike to let other questions be taken up for discussion."
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Kavita Jain said the state government had taken a number of steps to ensure safety and security of women.
