Outraged over the rape of a five-year-old girl, CPI(M)'s trade union CITU has demanded "sharp curtailment" of police personnel earmarked for security for VIPs and arrest of policemen who were lax in dealing with the case.
In a statement, CITU General Secretary Tapan Sen said they were shocked by the horrific rape and brutal assault on the girl and "inaction" by the police when her father, a poor labourer, went to report about her disappearance.
This highlights "the total indifference and hostility" shown by police to complaints from the poorer sections of society.
"Timely action by the police could have prevented the ghastly incident. Adding insult to the injury, the father of the victim was offered a bribe of Rs 2,000 by the police to keep quiet.
"CITU is outraged by the behaviour of an ACP who slapped young women protesters. CITU condemns the criminal dereliction of duty and blatant violation of laws by the enforcers of law and order, and demands that any policeman or officer found guilty of these should be dismissed from service immediately, arrested and cases be registered against them," he said.
It has been a long standing demand of the CITU that the government must provide creche and day care facilities, especially in working class areas, in order to provide security and care to the children of workers who are at work, Sen said.
In Delhi, he said, a review of security provided to VIPs must be done, which should be "curtailed" sharply in order to free the police personnel for duties concerning the common residents of the city.
The government is accountable for the deteriorating law and order situation in the country and must take responsibility for the same, he said.
The CITU also demanded that fast track courts should be set up all over the country to ensure speedy punishment to the guilty.
