Helpline for women leads to molester's arrest

With the help of the newly launched ‘Women Powerline’, a helpline for sexual harassment victims, a 64-year-old molester was nabbed in Kanpur town.

According to police sources here, the old man was arrested and sent to jail after a molestation victim called on the women powerline number 1090 in Lucknow and registered her complaint on Thursday.

The elderly man, according to officials, had been molesting the victim for the past several days.

“A counsellor tried to impress upon him (culprit) to stop molesting the woman, who was of her daughter’s age, but he remained adamant and also used abusive language,” an official said.

“I am ready to pay the cops. How much do you want? Just let me know and you will have the money,” the old man reportedly told the counsellor.

The helpline counsellor then reported the matter to police, following which an FIR was registered against the culprit. Police rushed to his residence at Chakeri locality in Kanpur on Thursday evening and arrested him immediately.

This is the first case in which a man has been arrested on the charges of molestation through the new helpline.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had launched the helpline to provide quick help to molestation victims.

Women can access it from anywhere in the state to register their complaints. A specially trained force comprising only women constables has been formed to attend to the calls and ensure timely help.