Claiming that city police had been now sensitised enough to deal properly with the crimes against women, though earlier there was "some insensitivity in the lower rung", Mumbai police commissioner Satyapal Singh today said strict action would follow if a woman's complaint is not entertained.
"My police force will not tolerate any incidents of eve- teasing or molestation. Earlier there was some insensitivity towards such cases in the lower rung, but we have held courses for them. Now every police official knows that if he does not take cognisance of a woman's complaint pertaining to sexual offence, he can get dismissed," Singh said at a function organised by the Indian Merchants Chambers here.
With the change in police's attitude, more and more women were coming forward to lodge complaints, he said. "Compared to 2010-11, last year the number of cases registered is four times more. This does not mean the offences committed has gone up. It means people are now not afraid to lodge a case against the accused."
On low conviction rates in cases of sexual offences, Singh said, "If the offences are committed by family members or relatives or boyfriend, then the victim (subsequently) either turns hostile or marries the accused. In such situations the police cannot be blamed.
