Under the theme “Working, Efficiency and Effectiveness”, a seminar on working of Mahila Thana was held at Rhododendron Hall, Police Complex, Chumoukedima on 23rd June 2023. The seminar was sponsored by the National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with the Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) & Dimapur Police Commissionerate.
Director General of Police, Nagaland, Rupin Sharma, IPS, in his key note address said that a seminar on working of women thana is important but the most important thing is sensitisation of people about crime against women, a requirement of a method not only in investigation but also enhancing the trust and faith of women in the criminal justice sytem- the law and police. He stated that the police is the implementing agency for the laws that are framed where the police play a vital role and in the past 20 years, the issues of women liberty, women rights and safeguard of crime against women or crimes committed by women have gain lot of precedence and laws have been inducted, legal provisions have been made to protect the identity of victims.
Sharma mentioned that in India, it is the mindset that creates a problem not only among the police officers but also in the society, where molestation or rape victims are pictured as a stigma of bad image or profile attached to it. He said that there is a need to build a sort of momentum or educate the people not to think of victims as a stigma. Any woman or girl who comes out should not be thought of as someone who has defiled or demeaned but should be considered as an act of courage of reporting to the police or authority, he added. He stated that things will change if the act of courage of reporting to the police is encouraged. We should protect the identity of the victim and complainant and encourage women who have been wronged, he said.
He stated that investigation is not about proving someone wrong but to arrive at the truth, especially in crime, it should begin with an open mindset about what has happened or reported. He pointed out that none of the Indian States have any mechanism for holding or protecting the identities of victims or complainants, while he suggested that allocating codes to the victims or complainants will ensure protection of the identity of the victims. He also appealed to the officers to maintain proper records.
Sharma further pointed that Nagaland police are generally lacking in crime detection which includes crime against women. He said that when the people come to the police, they act as upholders of the law of the land and not police officers. He called on the officers to be sensitive on various issues, as their work is not just to stop crime but also to win over the trust and faith of the people.
Chairperson NSCW, W. Nginyeih Konyak in her welcome address mentioned that Mahil Thana was established to provide victims with a more insight that is designed to deal especially with a situation of violence against women. She said that keeping in mind the important role of Mahila Thana, the NSCW, supported by National Commission of Women, has come up with this seminar to conduct deliberations, discussion, exchange of thoughts and felicitation which will help in identifying the deficiencies and initiatives relating to the effecting enforcement of same which will help in understanding utility of initiatives taken at various level of policy.
A technical session was also held where an overview of Mahila Police under Dimapur Police Commissionerate was presented by ADCP (Women & Juvenile), Dr. Tiamenla Phom, NOS; Management & Working of Mahila Thana was delivered by OC, Women PS, UBI, Rose Yanthan; Case studies with regard to work relationship with Mahila Thana by Centre Administrator, OSC, Weri-U Mero; Sensitization of Mahila Police in dealing with Victims by Director, Prodigal Home, K. Ela; while workplace stress management was shared by Nodal Officer, DMHP, Dr. Temsuyanger.
(Tovikali, IA, Chumoukedima)
