NGO meets RR Patil, seeks stricter action against sexual assault cases

Yuva Satta, the youth wing of Loksatta Movement, met home minister RR Patil demanding stricter action against sexual harassment cases. The NGO, which had launched the Zero Tolerance campaign to protest crimes against women on the backdrop of Amboli double murder case, handed over the petition of 1 lakh signatures collected through various media.

The group met the home minister and demanded section 354 and 509 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) to be made non-cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable.

Demands were also made to include appropriate safeguards in the IPC which has certain ambiguities while dealing with sexual harassment cases.

Sensitisation among the police force and adequate force of beat marshals to combat the menace of the crimes against women, were the other key demands made by the delegation. 

“There are only 200 beat marshals to handle such cases. We have demanded permanent deployment of the force,” said Ruben Mescarenhas, co-ordinator.

He said that apart from the special courts to deal with cases of sexual harassment, they have also demanded a committee to work on the steps to be taken to deal with the issue.

Patil assured the delegation that every possible measure will be taken to curb the cases of sexual harassment. “We have recommended due amendment in section 354 and 509 of the IPC to the Central government. The issue will also be discussed in the forthcoming winter session,” he said.