Central Women's Commission team meets Pooja

Rajkot, July 11 (UNI) Central Women's Commission chairperson Malini Bhattacharya today stressed the need for rehabilitation of Pooja Chauhan, who had paraded semi-nude on the streets of the city to highlight her plight, and said she should be shifted from present shelter to a safer place.

Ms Bhattacharya was talking to mediapersons here this evening after the team gathered information from Pooja Chauhan, her parents, in-laws, neighbours and also from the Commissioner of Police. The commission members also met representatives of the NGO which had assisted Pooja.

The chairperson said Pooja's case was not different from other domestic violence cases, but added, ''It was shameful for society that Pooja had to take such a step to fight for justice.'' Asked whether Pooja was ''mentally unsound'', Ms Bhattacharya said ''Pooja is not mentally unsound. She is intelligent and brave, but is mentally stressed,'' Ms Bhattacharya said, adding Pooja was planning to go to Delhi to fight her case.

But, Ms Bhatacharya said it was not necessary for Pooja to come to Delhi as her matter was in the court.

The four-member Central Women's Commission team arrived here last evening. Besides Ms Bhattacharya, the other members are Alka Lamba, law officer Yogesh Mehta, and under secretary Nandan Singh.

The Commission will submit its report to the government within ten days.

UNI