Women, children won't be summoned to Haryana police stations

 A fortnight after allegations of police involvement in recent Apna Ghar scandal in Rohtak, the Haryana Police has issued instructions not to summon women and children to police stations for questioning.

Haryana DGP R S Dalal issued the instructions to all police stations across the state recently, officials said here on Sunday.

While issuing the directive, Dalal maintained that this was done to ensure “sensitivity and protection of rights of women, children and weaker sections of the society.”

The ban has come at a time when the state police is under scanner for its alleged role in the sexual abuse of Apna Ghar inmates.

The scandal-hit Apna Ghar, being run by NGO Bharat Vikas Sangh, was sealed on June 9.

Inmates of the home were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse, physical and mental
exploitation and were used as bonded labour.

Dalal’s directive comes in addition to the existing law which states that a woman or a child cannot be detained in the police station after sunset unless the police has ample evidence against them.

However, a section of the police force is looking at the order as providing “blanket immunity” to women and children.

According to rights activists, the move is a positive one as children and women are often abused in complex cases.