A Special Women Protection Force needed for Puri, says NCW member

BHUBANESWAR: “A special ‘Women Protection Force’ is urgently required for Puri to build an environment of safety for millions of women tourists visiting the resort town and halt the rising incidence of crime against women in Puri,” observed the two-member NCW Inquiry Committee constituted to investigate the Rape and Murder of a 14-year old blind girl in Puri-Konark marine drive.

Giving details in her observations, NCW member Manasi Pradhan noted that in view of several attacks on female foreign tourists in Puri and four cases of rape in the famous Puri-Konark marine drive in last two years, it is urgently necessary to take steps to halt such crimes in Puri, that is giving a bad press to the place across the globe and seriously affecting its tourism prospects. A special women protection force consisting of members of paramilitary personnel should be created and entrusted with the duty of patrolling the Puri beach, the Puri-Konark marine drive and the pilgrim town of Puri, she added.

The committee found that none of the four most important police stations of Puri had a functional women desk. The city is also devoid a ‘Women Police Station’. Even the most used stretch of Puri beach remained entirely unguarded and the police watch towers vacant. There were not even single security personnel on the beach, it added.

The two-member Committee consisting of Hemlata Kheria and Manasi Pradhan has completed their phase of Inquiry from July 17 to July 23. The Inquiry Committee visited the Beladal village in Puri and has recorded the statements of the victim’s parents and other witnesses. It also visited the spot of crime on Puri-Konark marine drive. The inquiry committee has also recorded the testimony of all concerned officials and reviewed the progress in police investigation.

The inquiry committee member Hemlata Kheria has observed that an almost negligible compensation of only Rs 10,000 has so far been received by the parents of the 14-year old blind girl raped and murdered in Puri-Konark marine drive though the crime is of extremely heinous nature and is almost a re-enactment of the Delhi gangrape and murder that has shaken the country.

The committee observed that though the victim’s parents have given written testimony regarding involvement of four to five persons in the crime, the investigation has made no headway in probing this angle and police so far has comprehended only one person.

The Inquiry Committee said that they would soon submit its preliminary report with recommendations. Senior officials of the State Government would soon be issued summons to appear before the Inquiry Committee with affidavits detailing action taken by the authorities. The Inquiry Committee is also likely to make a second visit next month, said the committe.