Protests at police HQ, Jantar Mantar, AIIMS

Demonstrations over the gang rape of the five-year-old girl were held outside Delhi Police headquarters, Jantar Mantar and AIIMS for the third day on Monday demanding resignation of Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar.

Protesters tried to enter the police headquarters at regular intervals, but were prevented by security personnel. Activists of Aam Aadmi Party, National Federation of Indian Women, All India Students’ Association, Students Federation of India and other organisations were part of the agitation.

Several women also refused to budge from their demand of Kumar’s resignation and action against the erring police officers. “Mere removing them is not enough we want departmental enquiries into the whole matter. The officer who tried to bribe should also be penalised. We want the Delhi Police commissioner to resign as he has failed the people,” said Rashpal Kaur, National Federation of Indian Women’s Delhi secretary.
“It is for all of us to see that sensitivity is fading in society, and police and the government are sleeping. There is a need to wake them up from their deep slumber,” she added.

Police had stationed water cannons as a precautionary measure. It is also alleged that some AAP members managed to enter the premises and attend the press conference held by Kumar. A police officer said the matter has been reported to them, and they are probing into it.

A joint demonstration was also called at Jantar Mantar by Citizens’ Collective against Sexual Assault, Nirantar, Saheli, Jagori, Progammi Mahila Sanghatan, and others. Mayanka Jain, a protester, said strong action was needed as police have failed to discharge their duties over and over again. “They have proved themselves to be corrupt, ineffective, prejudiced and often violent,” she said.

An agitator at AIIMS — where the girl is admitted — claimed that case after case, women, their relatives and supporters are being harassed and those protesting against the inaction of police, are being thrashed.

“Suspending police personnel are mere eyewash and not enough. We have to make sure that all those who have attempted to subvert justice are chargesheeted and dismissed,” Deepika Saxena said.

Police have been accused of refusing to file an FIR on time in connection with the gang rape and laxity in searching for the girl after a missing complaint was received.
The girl’s family had also alleged that a police officer had offered them Rs 2,000 for hushing up the case.