Coronavirus is taking its toll on the marital life in Punjab. With couples staying together 24X7 following nationwide lockdown, the cases of domestic violence have registered a sharp rise of 21 percent during the past months.
Figures show that there has been a 21 percent increase, from 3,287 to 3,993, in the cases of domestic violence against women between February and April 20.
That was not all! A similar percentage increase was also recorded in total cases of crime against women (CAW), from 4709 to 5695, during the same period.
To deal with the same, the Punjab Police has formulated a detailed strategy to tackle such cases, with daily action taken reports to be submitted by the Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) for crime against women (CAW).
The State has been under a curfew since March 23, two days before the nationwide lockdown was imposed.
“There has been a substantial decrease in the number of complaints registered for dowry harassment, rape and eve-teasing (sexual harassment of women). This is probably because people are not stepping out of their homes and there is increased police presence around the state,” said the state Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta.
RISE IN NUMBER OF CALLS ON HELPLINES
As per the data, the average number of calls received on ‘Dial 112’, the emergency response helpline, had increased to 133 per day — a whopping 34 percent — between March 21 and April 20, up from an average of 99.33 in the preceding three months. As many as 34 percent of these calls pertained to domestic violence cases, the police said, adding that per day increase in total crime against women cases in this period is 30 percent.
DSPs TO SEND DAILY ACTION TAKEN REPORT
Later, a video conferencing was also held on Thursday between the DGP and the Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs) associated with the Crimes-Against-Women Cell and Women Help Desk Officials to take stock of the situation and discuss measures to tackle this increase.
As per the detailed strategy, presented during the meeting by ADGP Community Affairs Division (CAD) Gurpreet Deo, the standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been put in place to devise the police’s response mechanism.
The meeting decided that DSP CAW will send a daily report in a defined format to track all such complaints and monitor the action taken.
The police will coordinate, as needed, with One-Stop Centres, which are manned by counselors nominated by Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development. The services of these counsellsors will be utilized, wherever needed, to counsel the victims, perpetrators, and provide necessary protection in case of children.
As per the response mechanism, the CAW call is received at 112 and forward to District Control Room (DCC), with details of the call also given to DSP CAW and District Women Help Desks. The Women Help Desk or Women Response Team are required to call the concerned, visit the women in distress.
Women constables posted at PS, designated as PS-WLO, then handhold the complainant, and coordinate with the PS and District level Helpdesk on her behalf.
It has been decided that the teams will call back the women in distress immediately, provide Tele-Counseling and even visit, if needed. They will also provide in-situ counseling to the couple or family involved, and rescue the women victims in case they want to go to maternal house or shelter home.
Medical examination is done in case of physical abuse. The teams will then initiate criminal proceedings, in liaison with SHO, if a case is made out.
The DGP also issued a stern warning that such cases will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken.