HT Bureau
Guwahati, March 26: The Opposition Congress on Monday staged a walkout amidst noisy scenes in the Assembly after ruling BJP MLAs alleged that the main accused in last week’s rape-and-murder case of a minor in was a Congress worker.

On the other hand, Assam chief minister Sonowal has directed Assam Police director general Mukesh Sahay to set up a cell to take up all cases of crime against women. Chairing an official meeting in Guwahati, Sonowal said a high ranking woman police officer should take charge of the cell. “Women have been accorded highest respect in the Assamese society and these crimes against women have seriously dented the pride of the people of the state,” he said.
During the Question Hour of the state assembly on Monday, the Congress demanded an adjournment motion to discuss the rape and murder case, which was later rejected by the deputy speaker Dilip Kumar Paul.

Disallowing the motion, Paul said the assembly and the state are ashamed of the rising incidents of rape and asked the government to consider AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam’s proposal to bring in a strict law to deal with it as soon as possible. “We need to think if such criminals should live on this earth or not,” Paul also said.

However, after the Question Hour, Leader of the Opposition Debabrata Saikia said Assam has been witnessing rising cases of crime against women after the BJP government came to power in the state and the last week’s killing of a minor by burning her after rape in Nagaon district is a serious matter.
During arguments by Saikia and parliamentary affairs minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, the legislators of both the BJP and the Congress started shouting at each other over the issue.

The Congress MLAs demanded death penalty for the culprits, while the BJP members alleged that the main accused is a Congress worker and displayed newspaper copies in support of their claims.

On this, Congress walked out of the House, following which Patowary announced the names of the accused who belong to the same religion.

AIUDF MLA Mamun Imdadul Haque Chawdhury said a criminal does not have any religion and there should be strictest punishment against such criminals.
Another AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam said the names were taken to malign one particular religion.

Finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said if a catalogue of rape accused in the last 10-12 years is made, a pattern could be seen.

The deputy speaker then rejected the adjournment motion brought in by the Congress and asked the government to take urgent steps to prevent such cases in future.

Five men allegedly raped an 11-year-old girl and set her on fire when she was alone at home in Dhaniabheti Lalung Gaon in Nagon district on March 23. She died the next day. The chief minister also wrote a letter to Gauhati High Court chief justice Ajit Singh requesting him to set up a fast-track court to take up all cases of crimes against women on an urgent basis.

“This would make fast and strict action against perpetrators of such crimes and result in reduction of crime rate in the state,” the chief minister said.
Assam police required to have 30 per cent women personnel, including constables and officers, but there are several vacancies in the rank of sub-inspectors as many fail to clear physical tests.

Sonowal said the government has decided to amend rules for appointment of women police officials as many women fail to clear physical tests.
He also directed chief secretary T Y Das to take steps to create awareness about such crimes across the state involving students, teachers, NGOs, village heads, village defence forces, panchayat members, ASHA and anganwadi workers. (With PTI input)

On the other hand, the chief minister on Monday wrote a letter to chief justice of Gauhati High Court and requested for setting up a fast-track court to take up all cases of crimes against women on an urgent basis. This would make fast and strict action against perpetrators of such crimes possible and result in reduction of crime rate in the state, he opined.

It is to be mentioned that though 30 percent women personnel should be there in Assam Police including constables and officers, lots of vacancies are there in the rank of sub-inspector due to the failure in clearing physical tests. For that reason, the government has decided to amend the rules for appointment of women officials.

News Source The Hill Times