Vyas calls on Sonia Gandhi; Discuss security of women

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) In the wake of the murder of a mother and daughter here, National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Girija Vyas today called on UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and discussed several issues related to women, including their security.

''I had a wide-ranging discussion with Ms Gandhi and security of women was also deliberated upon,'' she said.

Ms Vyas is also scheduled to meet Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil later in the day and raise the issue of safety of women.

The NCW chairperson 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 today sought a report within three days from the Delhi Police on the murder of the two women lawyers here the weekend.

She said nationwide campaigns must be launched to create awareness about the safety of women in the big cities.

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.

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