IANS/New Delhi

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna yesterday slammed the police for the “security lapse” and the crackdown on protesters after the brutal gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus in south Delhi.

He also announced the suspension of two senior police officers.

Talking to reporters after a meeting attended among others by Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar, Khanna said the force should exercise restraint in such situations.

“Using water cannons and tear gas shells on peaceful protesters is not right,” Khanna said.

“The commissioner apologised... If such a situation arises in future, police should act with restriction as far as possible,” Khanna, who returned to Delhi after cutting short a visit to the US, said.

He also slammed the police for letting buses with tinted glasses run on Delhi roads and said two officers have been suspended.

“Traffic Police and PCR vans did not fulfill their responsibility. Vehicles with dark windows are banned. How was this bus ignored? Why weren’t PCR vans on patrol unaware that the bus with tinted windows was plying?” he said.

The Lt Gov announced the suspension of Assistant Commissioners Mohan Singh Dabas of the Delhi traffic police and Yad Ram of Police Control Room (PCR) “for dereliction of duty.”

He said deputy commissioners Prem Nath and Satyavir Singh Katara had been asked to explain the failure of the police to act.

Khanna also said Special Commissioner Sushil Yadav, who earlier worked with the police’s women’s cell, would meet representatives from women groups on the last Friday of every month and would be approachable 24x7.

He said police officers would be sensitised to deal with women’s complaints and would check if women cells were working properly in Delhi police stations.

“If a woman comes with a complaint, the police have to register a case immediately. Women groups have also suggested some of their volunteers can act as wardens to check eve teasing in buses,” he said.

The police have come under attack since six men raped a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus on December 16 and dumped her 40 minutes later along with her male friend, who was badly beaten.

The accused, who have all been arrested, were drunk and on a joy ride. They had earlier robbed a man of Rs7,000. But when he contacted the police, they failed to act.

Three constables - Kailash, Ashok and Sandeep were suspended on December 22 for not taking action when the robbery victim approached them.

The policemen on duty reportedly told the man to come the next day to register his complaint. He was robbed by the six men in the same bus in which they raped the woman.

The police had also suspended Sub-Inspector Rajeshwar, head constable Inder Pal, constables Jagmal, Pardeep and Chottelal as they were found absent during their duty hours when Home Secretary R K Singh made a surprise visit on December 21 evening to check citizen safety.

 

‘Don’t blame films for sexual assaults’

IANS/Mumbai

Do explicit movie scenes and double-meaning songs and dialogues incite sexual violence? Many think so. But most directors in the Hindi film industry don’t agree.

Milan Luthria, director of The Dirty Picture, feels it is not correct to blame films for rapes and related crimes.

“I think it is unfair to make such an allegation about movies and songs. I take great offence. We need to look at our society and culture and how we live. Let’s focus on real issues,” Luthria said.

Giving a woman’s perspective, Bela Sehgal, director of Shirin Farhad ki Toh Nikal Padi, feels it is important to inculcate a feeling of respect for women in boys from a young age.

“How can you rape a woman when it is a woman who gives birth to you,” she said.

Even though Sehgal feels that movies are a reflection of the society, they can’t be blamed for brutal sexual crimes.

“Films are a reflection of how our society is. But I have not seen such a gruesome rape in any film. It is very shocking, but I don’t think films can be blamed,” she said.

Of course, violence and murders shown on the screen give ideas to people. Those who raped the 23-year-old in Delhi were psychopaths, she said.

Psychologist Neha Patel agrees with the general perception that television and films do influence people. She feels that a vivid display of the consequences of rape can help in reducing such crime.

“We have seen how ads send out subtle messages. When films show rape scenes, they often focus on the suffering of the girl instead of showing the consequences borne by the man,” she said.

“If this is shown, it might inculcate a feeling of fear in men... a visual depiction of consequences is very important.”

With ‘item numbers’ becoming a must in every film, Goal director Vivek Agnihotri feels songs with sexual innuendos do affect the psyche of people.

“More than rape scenes it’s the subliminal messages which affect the psyche. These come from perverted songs, dances, gestures, dialogues which are meant to titillate the audience,” Agnihotri said.

“Very often I find our movies crossing that line. Why just movies? Even in school functions and birthday parties 10-year-olds dance with vulgar movements on vulgar lyrics.”