NCW seeks report from Delhi police on lawyers' murder

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) The National Commission for Women (NCW) today sought a report within three days from the Delhi Police on the murder of two women lawyers here over the weekend.

NCW chairperson Girija Vyas said the murder of the mother and daughter, both practising lawyers in the Delhi High Court, was shocking and raised a question over the safety of women in metropolitan cities.

''The Commission has taken serious note of the murder case and sought the report,'' she said.

She urged Delhi Police Commissioner K K Paul to take effective steps to check crime against women in the national capital.

Ms Vyas said the investigation of the case must be supervised by senior officer to ensure that the guilty are punished.

''Police must take extra measures and step up vigil with the help of local resident welfare associations for the security of women living alone who are vulnerable targets of antisocial elements,'' she added.

Nationwide campaigns must be launched to create awareness about safety of women in the big cities, the NCW chairperson said.

The Commission has also written to the Union Home Ministry in this regard.

''We have requested the ministry to recruit more women for the force so that all stations in the big cities can have at least one lady officer,'' Ms Vyas said.

She said at present there were only three per cent women officers in the police force and that must be raised.

Seventy-year-old Swarna Mahajan and her 45-year-old daughter Anuradha were found murdered in their Siddharth Enclave apartment here yesterday morning.

Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the attackers had gained ''friendly entry'' into the apartment.

UNI NR LR HT1740