Home minister R.R. Patil on Monday directed the city police to take cognisance of recent reports of misbehaviour with women at the famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Mandal. Mr Patil asked additional commissioner of police, Pravin Salunkhe, to take strict action against volunteers of the mandal who misbehaved with women devotees. The home minister also informed that the government railway police had started a special drive on his instructions against eve-teasing at railway stations and in trains. The GRP has arrested 11 persons in the last three days.
Recently, a Marathi news channel had telecast footage of volunteers of Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh Mandal pushing and shoving devotees, including women, at the pandal. Taking cognisance of the television report, the home minister telephoned Mr Salunkhe and instructed him to convey the message to the mandal that women devotees should not be humiliated. “If such incidents continue, police should take action against volunteers,” he ordered Mr Salunkhe.
According to the home minister, although no complaint has been registered yet against the volunteers of Lalbaugcha Raja mandal, he took suo motu cognisance and called Mr Salunkhe.
According to sources, the police has
identified a volunteer and strict action will be taken against him after the 10-day Ganesh festival. It has been reported that the same volunteer also humiliated a trainee police constable from Nagpur and even then no case was registered.
Mr Patil said, “I have also instructed the GRP to take stern action against drug addicts and roadside romeos who harass women commuters.”
According to an official from the railway police commissioner’s office, a special drive was undertaken last Saturday after orders were received from the home minister, and 11 persons were arrested. The railway police has been told to adopt a “zero tolerance” approach against eve-teasing and other crimes against women.
“As part of the drive, 100 and 110 home guards have been made available to the Railway Protection Force and the GRP, respectively,” the home minister said.