'Crime against women is a gender-oriented issue'

 A Correspondent

GOALPARA, April 8: Taking cognizance into the rising trend of crime against children and women and especially after the recent rape incident inside a private institution, the Goalpara district administration on Friday arranged a public meeting at the tasurjya Phani Sarma Bhavan of the town. Alyzing the crime scerio in the district, Amitava Sinha, Superintendent of Police, said, “Crime against women is a gender-oriented issue and law takes its own course after a crime is committed. But we should try to prevent its occurrence.” “Delay in reporting is one of the main problems in Goalpara district which leads to the release of the crimils. A system of dewani or justice by self-styled social leaders in rural areas leads to delay.”

 Regarding the recent Science Academy incident, he said, “There was an effort to downplay the matter and minimize the crime by the school authority.” He also emphasized installing CCTV cameras in private institutions and mandatory provision of separate washrooms for boys and girls. Jiten Das, senior advocate and Vice-Principal of Goalpara Law College, expressing grief over the matter, remarked that 70 per cent of cases of crime against women that come to the Goalpara district court were from the Muslim community whereas in Islamic scriptures women hold a high position. He also lamented the poor literacy rate of the minorities in the district which is acted as fuel to the crimes and suggested improvements.

 Ronjeeta Agarwala, secretary of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), elaborated on the Assam Victims Compensation Act, 2015 and informed that a rape victim received maximum Rs 3 lakh as compensation, which was higher than the compensation received by families of murder victims. She also highlighted the significance of Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 to deal with the crimils.

Deputy Commissioner Ghashyam Dass, in his concluding speech, appealed to all concerned to cooperate with the administration to curb crimes against women and children. However, he expressed satisfaction that child marriage had decreased in the district.