Crimes against women, especially the girls, are increasing in the State over the past few years. After every such incident, the police ritualistically stress on intensifying patrolling and community policing. But nothing is happening on the ground. Critics opine that the failure of the police in patrolling, community policing and other types of policing is resulting in the spurt in crimes, especially against the women and the children in the State. Police have failed to instill fear of law among the potential offenders. Minor girls are proving to be easy targets. They are being killed because the criminals are bent upon eliminating evidence.
Three such incidents have happened recently in three districts wherein offenders raped and then killed the children. The ghastly rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in November last in Haldwani stunned the State. A truck driver along with two other aides took the girl to a secluded place, raped and then murdered her.
In Haridwar, a 12- year- old girl was raped and murdered by unidentified persons in a sugarcane field, near Bhatta Colony under Pathri police station when she had gone to respond to nature's call in the open on January 7. As regards this case, the State police are still stumbling in the dark over the identity of the accused.
In Doiwala, Dehradun case, a 15-year-old boy was alleged to have abducted a two- year-old girl and attempted to sexually molest her and failing to do so, killed the girl by dumping her in Song river on Tuesday night. These three ghastly rape and murder incidents in Haldwani, Haridwar and Dehradun have exposed that the State police's claim of providing security to the minors, in particular, and the women, in general, rings hollow.
The observers said, stung by such heinous crimes, senior police officers talk of initiating measures like intensifying police patrolling, implementing community policing and developing sources, among others. But when it comes to implementing them on the ground things get stuck. They further said that the minors are vulnerable and soft targets of the miscreants. These three incidents have left the people insecure and parents are scared about the security of their wards.
However, a police officer on condition of anonymity said mounting crimes against minors is a cause of concern for all of us. We are all part of the society. What is happening is that in most of these cases, friends, locals or relatives are found involved. Police have some limitation and despite this, police department is doing everything to stop such crimes. But the society as a whole must rise to the occasion to ensure such crimes do not recur, he said.