Criticizing the diktat issued by Bidhannagar Police about do's and don't's for women , Communist Party of India -Marxist (CPI-M) leader Mohammad Salim on Tuesday described the diktat as unacceptable, and asked it to be withdrawn.
"After the creation of the new commisioneriate by Mamata Banerjee..., day in and day out, women are being subjected to harassment, and eve teasing is taking place, the older peoples are not secured at their home. Police instead of taking responsibility and gearing up in giving assurance of their security, they are asking women not to come out. This is unacceptable. I think the women, students and youth organizations, and all rationale people, modern looking people, must come out and protest. This diktat of Bidhannagar commissionerate under Mamata Banerjee's Government must be withdrawn," said Salim.
"It's very unfortunate. What's happening in Bengal, you can find out, the police and security personnel who were supposed to protect the women, on one hand they are refusing to recognize and acknowledge that incidents are taking place. ...even those who are filing their complaints their own families the victims are subjected to harassment and attacks by the goons," he added.
"On the other hand the police instead of taking the responsibility to find out the culprits ... and give an assurance and create an atmosphere where womenfolk can move around as a equal citizen pin this country and particularly in this state. Never before in Bengal it was heard in Bengal that women are subjected to harassment and threat of rape," he further added.
Virtually echoing the archaic laws of kangaroo courts, the Bidhannagar Police on its website has in a section titled "Tips on How to Prevent Eve-Teasing" has given instructed to the women residents of Salt Lake area near Kolkata about dress code and when to leave the house.
The page which is signed by the recently appointed deputy commissioner of police, detective department, Bidhannagar City Police, Kankar Barui also recommends women to avoid travelling in crowded trains and buses altogether.