Gang-rape case: Tirath demands increase in police presence

Against the backdrop of the gang-rape case here, Woman and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath has written to the Home Minister and the Delhi Chief Minister demanding increase in police presence and character verification of bus staff before issuing permits.

"I have written to the Home Minister...last time too when such an incident had taken place we had demanded increasing police pickets. We have provided them with vans to patrol the streets...it seems the bus did not stop at any red signal for 90 minutes and no one heard her (victim's) cries for help," she told reporters outside Parliament House.

Tirath said she has asked Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit to ensure that bus permits are issued after proper character verification of bus staff, including drivers and conductors.

To a question on failure on part of the police, she said they are supposed to move on streets with their sirens on. "But if there has been a shortcoming, action will be taken," she said.

She also said efforts are afoot to fast track rape cases in courts.