'Guidelines on crime against women being ignored'

New Delhi, Dec 15: Home Minister P Chidambaram has expressed anguish over the police, prosecutors and judges not following the ministry's guidelines on handling of cases related to crime against women.

"There are very strict guidelines on how a case (crime against women) should be investigated and prosecuted. I agree that the guidelines are not followed in some cases by the police, prosecutors and judges," he told the Lok Sabha during Question Hour on Tuesday, Dec 15.

After saying that the guidlines have been passed keeping in mind the sensibilities and sensitivities of the victim and to reduce the 'agony and sufferings' of the victim, the Home Minister appealed to the police, prosecutors and judges to follow the guidelines properly.

He also mentioned the issue of foreign women often being targeted in India. Though it is true that some women tourists were molested, it was not proper to portray that India was not safe for foreign travellers, Chidambaram said.

Further saying that the Centre has issued detailed advisory on safety and security of foreign tourists and that some state governments had created a tourism police force, the minister added, "I hope that the state governments will take the advisory seriously and implement it."

The recent rape case in Goa, wherein a Russian woman accused a Goan politician of sexually assaulting her has raised concerns over the way these cases are handled as well safety of foreigners in the country.

OneIndia News