Tumkuru rape fallout: Is there any faith left in cops?
- The accused ASI of Tumakuru city and the driver of the vehicle have been sent to 14 days judicial custody.
- CM Siddaramaiah warned that the state government will not tolerate police involvement in illegal activities and crimes.
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The recent incident of an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) being arrested for raping a mentally challenged woman has again highlighted the plight of women safety in India.
This incident happened at Tumakuru city in Karnataka. The accused ASI Umesh S and the driver of the vehicle in which the 30-year-old woman was raped have been sent to 14 days judicial custody.
A day after this incident, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, chaired the annual police review meeting and he stated that “We will take severe action against the accused. We have booked a case, arrested him and have ordered the officials to suspend him and eventually dismissal too.”
At this meeting, the CM warned that the state government will not tolerate police involvement in illegal activities and crimes. He mentioned that due to such incidents people will lose faith in the police department. However, he also added that “such incidents also bring a bad name to the government.”
This recent incident is one of many cases in which the protector turned into perpetrator and shook the faith of the masses in the police force. Time and again, the police force has come under sharp criticism for abusing official powers, causing atrocities, and inaction in various serious offences. Sexual assault of women is another addition to this list of acts that questions the need for the existence of police in India.
On January 7 this year, the National Human Rights Commission released a press statement claiming that 16 women have been raped and sexual and physical assault in Chhattisgarh by the state police personnel. Further, the Commission stated that another 20 victims need to record their statements.
In 2015, three policemen in Mumbai were arrested along with four others for allegedly raping a model. A year before that, a high-level official of Maharashtra police department was accused of raping a model-turned-actress. However, later of the Sessions Court discharged him from the charges.
Women safety is a pressing matter in India and police is an instrument of ensuring the same. However, the multiple cases of sexual assault involving police lead to the conclusion that the protectors have turned into perpetrators in the country.
