Itanagar: Itanagar Municipal Corporation (IMC) mayor Tame Phassang on Thursday said that all districts in the state will soon have women police stations.
Speaking during the inaugural session of a state-level seminar on ‘Working of Mahila Thana’ (working efficiency and effectiveness) conducted by the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Women (APSCW) at Banquet Hall here, Phassang said the state government is working to establish women police stations in all 26 districts of the state.
At present, there are 7 functional women police stations in the state.
Terming women police stations as a necessity, he said women police officers can deal better with women-related issues.
“A woman will confide in another woman, which will help in better policing, justice delivery, etc.,” he said.
Speaking on various laws for the welfare of the women including Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, 2005, he said we all must work together for proper implementation of laws.
He said injustice must be reported and crime should not be concealed.
Phassang said Jan Bhagidari is essential for ensuring the effectiveness of women police stations.
He said the state government should provide digital, medical and manpower support to women police stations.
He asked the APSCW to conduct such seminars, workshops and awareness campaigns in remote parts of the state, while assuring cooperation and support from the IMC.
Taking benefit of the occasion, the mayor appealed to capital dwellers to keep their houses and surroundings clean.
He said to keep the state capital ‘clean and green’, a positive mindset was needed from the dwellers.
Highlighting the importance of women police stations, APSCW chairperson Kenjum Pakam said that establishment of women police stations have helped in controlling crime against women.
Women normally dread to go to the police station (conventional police station), she said, adding, “As they don’t want to go to the police station, they come to us (commission).”
Police are for the welfare of the people and we should not fear seeking help from them, she said.
She said women police stations are needed in every nook and corner of our state.
Pakam lauded the women police stations at Seppa in East Kameng district and Ziro in Lower Subansiri district for getting the ISO certification.
The seminar was sponsored by the National Commission for Women, New Delhi.
In the technical session, inspector Satyajit Roy, as a resource person, spoke on functions, rules and duties of police in general.
Stating that police are for the welfare of the public, he appealed to the public to help them in maintaining law and order, controlling crime, enforcement of law, etc.
He said policing is a reflection of the society, adding that it is the most recognizable face of the government.
He said mutual trust between the general public and the police is a must. He said the crisis arises when there is a trust deficit.
Lady inspector Maloti Tayeng, as a resource person, dwelt at length on guidelines and management of women police stations (duties and responsibilities of officer in-charge), and how to file FIR.
She said that women police stations take up gender-based violence.
Tayeng disclosed that 70% of the personnel at the Itanagar women police station are women.
She appealed to women victims to come forward and seek help from police, even for counselling.
Tayeng also spoke on the POCSO Act, bank and ATM fraud, sextortion, etc.
APSLSA panel lawyer Raknu Konya spoke on paralegal volunteer schemes and working of paralegal volunteers in police stations.
She disclosed that APSLSA provides paralegal volunteers in police stations to help citizens with legal advice free of cost at the time of need.
The volunteers are imparted training and are deployed to ensure that citizens from mostly weaker sections of society are assisted legally at police stations whether one is a complainant or victim or an accused.
The scheme is being implemented specifically to ensure women, children, marginalized or backward sections of society get free legal aid at police stations.
A woman can be arrested only before sunset and after sunrise, said APSLSA retainer lawyer Nani Modi while speaking on the topic ‘arrest of women’ (law, legal procedure and rights).
She said the arrest must be made by a woman police officer only.
Modi said it is to safeguard the ‘izzat’ (honour, reputation) and ‘aabru’ (prestige) of the woman.
She, however, repented that there has been no safeguard from arrest for pregnant women and for women having minor children.
Among others, APSCW vice chairperson Nabam Yahi Tad and member Komna Moidam also spoke.
Over 300 participants including inmates of Oju Welfare Association, police personnel, officials of Women and Child Development department, representatives of AWAZ, Childline, One Stop Centre, WHL, and students from Dera Natung Government College, and Doimukh college attended the seminar.
Also read: Arunachal: IMC mayor vows to preserve indigenous cultures
