The gruesome murder of a 25-year-old lawyer Pallawi in a high-end apartment in Mumbai is shocking and brings to fore the urgency of compulsory screening/security checks of security guards. In Pallavi’s case, the watchman took advantage of the fact that she was alone in the apartment. Then he stole the keys and used them to enter the flat in an attempt to commit the most heinous crime of rape.

The Bangalore police should ensure that resident associations of apartment conduct security checks of guards/other workers by local police, in an attempt to reduce such crimes. And kudos to Mumbai police who cracked the case in no time. The watchman he should be tried in fast track court and be awarded the most stringent punishment.

Ramesh G jethwani is a Veteran writer, Voracious reader, Historian and commentator who has been writing in 21 newspapers in India and GCC countries for several decades on various subjects of importance.
His website.www: rameshjethwani.com.

The gruesome incidence of mass rape of 32 girls in a shelter home in Muzaffarpur in Bihar in India has shocked the country. The mass sexual abuse at a government protected shelter homes raise some important questions about safety of girls in India. How can such incidents occur at a children's home? Isn't it one of the worst crimes against humanity?

If such an incident can take place in shelter homes, where else can our girls feel safe? It should prick the conscience of Indians. This is a brutal case of sexual exploitation and shows how affluent people can exploit the poor and underprivileged under the guise of social work by running shelter homes.

Ramesh G jethwani is a Veteran writer, Voracious reader, Historian and commentator who has been writing in 21 newspapers in India and GCC countries for several decades on various subjects of importance.
His website.www: rameshjethwani.com.

The murder of the toddler has triggered massive outrage on social media, and demonstrations are taking place in various parts of India.

The heart-wrenching case of a little girl in Aligarh in India, once again underscores that our children remain highly vulnerable to heinous crimes. This is one of the most heinous cases reported in recent times. It's sickening how the accused thought of taking revenge from the family that had taken a petty loan amount.

The murder of the toddler has triggered massive outrage on social media, and demonstrations are taking place in various parts of India. People are rightly demanding a fast-track trial of the accused. Are we living amidst human beings or beasts? How could anyone be so cruel to a child.

We can sensitise our children to the threats of sexual assault, but how can we protect them from such heinous crime? It is plain disgusting; the accused must be punished and law and order must be strengthened.

The decision of Indian court to give life imprisonment to god-man Asaram for raping a 16-year-old female devotee at his Jodhpur Ashram is praise worthy. The judgement will set a good precedent and send out a message that even the powerful people are not above the law.

This sentencing also brings to fore the warning to those who use their influence to intimidate others. Asaram has a large fan following and 400 ashrams in India and abroad.

Sir, Supreme court has made a laudable move, It has asked police not to arrest accused in domestic cruelty case unless recommended by a family welfare committee.

while providing a much needed legal shield to husband, the court was also considerate about genioun victims of dowry harassment,

Therefore latest guidelines will not apply cases involving tangible injury and death.

Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Flaws in prison security” (November 30). The daring escape of six dreaded prisoners, including the self-styled leader of a Khalistani militant group, from the high-security Nabha prison in Punjab, points towards a lax security system prevailing in the country’s so-called high security prisons.

This is not the first instance of a jail-break, but the growing list should be a wake-up call for the country’s security agencies and jail authorities. Only recently a major jail-break happened at Madhya Pradesh’s maximum security prison in Bhopal, where members of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) were kept on various charges. Both these jail-breaks were well-planned and executed.

These incidents bring to the fore the urgency for a review of existing safety mechanisms in jails across the country. A comprehensive special security audit of all jails must be carried out, especially where hardened criminals or terror-related undertrials are held. Issues such as shortage of advanced technology and staff shortage, must be urgently tackled.

Apropos ‘IT City’s new calling card: Murder’ (DNA, October 3), the IT capital of India is witnessing a steady rise in crime rate. Today, the police have a tough task ahead. The city is now has a large floating population, but the police lack the basic infrastructure to police it. Also, the cops are overstretched due to other assignments such as providing VVIP security.

The Police need additional special crime branch teams. Policing infrastructure vis-a–vis increasing manpower, Hoyasala and Cheetah vehicles must be improved.

This refers to the news report, “Delhi gang rape victim battles for life, four held” (December 18). The gang rape and brutalisation of a 23-year-old medical intern in the national Capital in a moving bus is utterly shocking and must be condemned in no uncertain terms. Not only has it shaken the confidence of the women folk across the city, but it has also added another shameful footnote to Delhi's notorious tag of being the ‘rape capital' of the country. The incident has also exposed the complacency and apathy of the authorities to tackle effectively the rising incidents of crime against the fair sex.

In our country it is not enough to merely have laws. We are burdened unfortunately with a lengthy and cumbersome judicial process which is of little help to the cause of victims of eve-teasing and rape. The need of the hour is to apprehend the culprits and give them exemplary punishment by conducting trial in a fast-track court within six months. Women must feel safe and at ease, at least in the national capital. Increased policing and stringent punishment would definitely act as a deterrent.

SIR, ~ The death of a 25-year-old nurse, Preeti Rathee, is a national shame. She had just arrived at Mumbai’s Bandra railway station by Garib Rath Express, when an unidentified assailant threw acid on her face.

The tragedy has provoked widespread outrage in Delhi, where her relatives have decided not to cremate her body until certain demands are met. India prides itself on a string of achievements ~ the first woman President, Pratibha Patil; the first woman Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Meira Kumar; and the chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi. Yet the treatment of women has disgraced the country.

There are reports of female foeticide, gangrape, dowry deaths, and acid attack, to name but a few forms of crime against women. The acid attack on Preeti has trashed the traditional values of the country.-yours, etc.

Sir, The death sentence to the accused in the Preeti Rathi acid attack case is historical. It sends a clear message that the country is serious about tackling such heinous crimes. The SC should also contemplate enhancing the compensation to Rs 10 lakhs, so victims can avail better treatment to survive the trauma.

The daylight brutal murder of a bank staffer in an apartment lift by a security guard, conies as a shock and reminds us about how we vulnerable we are to those whom we employ to protect us. This has created a sense of insecurity among citizens particularly in Bangalore which has a huge migrant population looking for jobs as domestic helps.

We cannot blame the police for everything as the force is overstretched and struggling to cope with the task of policing a city bursting at its seams.

I welcome the Indian special women’s court decision to hand death sentence to one Ankur Panwar, a stalker, who was convicted of carrying out fatal acid attack on a nurse, Preeti Rathi.

The landmark judgment serves warning to all those with criminal mindset. Such incidents happen because womem enjoy right to freedom. In this case too, Rathi had refused to marry with Panwar, who then threw sulphuric acid on her in revenge. Rathi died of multiple organ failure at Bombay Hospital a month later. Panwar attacked her as he was jealous of her success and because she had rejected his marriage proposal.

Sir —The Supreme Court’s strong directions to the Union Home Secretary and Chief Secretaries of all States to formulate a policy for effective regulation of the sale of acid is both timely and welcome. A sound and proper mechanism to ensure treatment and rehabilitation of acid attack victims is also much needed. Even the Justice Verma Committee had asked for deterrent punishment for acid throwers There have been numerous acid attacks on women in the past. Acid victims are traumatized physically, psychologically and socially. The intent of these inhuman attacks is not to kill, but to disfigure the victims for life, thus consigning them to a fate worse than death. In some cases, victims have succumbed to their injuries.

As the highly concentrated chemical is freely available for less than Rs 50/ a bottle, regulation alone may not be that effective. Exemplary punishment is the real answer to curb the menace.

Acid throwers should be given a minimum of 10 to 20 years in prison without bail.

No words are strong enough to condemn the incident of a 16-year-old’s modesty being outraged by a mob of over a dozen persons after she came out of a restaurant on a busy road in Guwahati (Assam mob shames nation, DNA July 14).

This incident brings to fore the fact that crimes against women are growing in all parts of India and need to be tackled with harsher laws. It is a gruesome and heinous crime which requires the severest punishment and a swift trial. Such types of crimes should be awarded mandatory life imprisonment, ensuring such criminals remain in jail for the rest of their lives. Moreover, what is happening to the collective consciousness of people of this nation when a teenaged girl is being publicly molested by hooligans and dozens of onlookers remain mute spectators.

The unfortunate gang rape of a 23-year-old girl in India’s capital city Delhi is shocking and unfortunate.

The incident of rape is on the rise in India’s capital and surrounding areas. An incident like this, which took place in the thickly populated Munirka area, clearly shows the lax attitude of the police. IIn India, there are many laws in place but unfortunately the judicial process is lengthy and cumbersome and does little to help to the cause of rape victims and eve-teasers. In spite of the Indian Supreme court ordering action against eve-teasers, this menace continues unabated, clearly exposes the complacency and apathy of the authorities.

This heinous act committed by a bunch of men, who subsequently threw her out of the vehicle in a semi-naked state along with her badly beaten friend, has shocked the Indian nation. How can any person just violate a girl’s modesty 
like this? The incident has rightfully evoked sharp reactions across India.

The need of the hour is to apprehend the culprits and give them exemplary punishment by conducting trail in fast track courts within six months. In a democratic country like India, which has a functional law and order machinery, women must feel safe and at ease while travelling on public transport at least in Delhi.

In the UAE and other Gulf counties, the cases of rape are extremely rare because of stringent enforcement of law and swift trial of offenders.

The need of the hour is also to have a check on the rising number of such acts by better policing and stringent punishment. Moreover, during a time when the danger of rape lurks in Delhi, the public should support the rape victim, instead of being mute spectators.

The unfortunate rape of a 22-year-old student at the prestigious Manipal university at Manipal, Karnataka, has shocked everyone.This gruesome and very disturbing incident once again reminds us of the brutal rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus last December.

The crime highlights the urgency of better security and stringent police patrolling on campuses, also need of hour is providing better accommodation for girls students, and screening of auto drivers and more comprehensive set up of CCTV's so that in case of any unfortunate crime like this, it help police in faster apprehending the crimnals.

I am writing in reference to KT’s story “Watchman confesses to murdering lawyer”.The gruesome murder of a 25-year-old lawyer Pallavi in a high-end apartment in Mumbai is shocking and brings to fore the urgency of compulsory screening/security checks of security guards. In Pallavi’s case, the watchman took advantage of the fact that she was alone in the apartment. Then he stole the keys and used them to enter the flat in an attempt to commit the most heinous crime of rape.

The Bangalore police should ensure that resident associations of apartment conduct security checks of guards/other workers by local police, in an attempt to reduce such crimes. And kudos to Mumbai police who cracked the case in no time. The watchman he should be tried in fast track court and be awarded the most stringent punishment.

Sir — This refers to the news report, “Dec 16-Apr 17: Has anything changed?” (April 20).

The kidnap, rape and brutalization of a five-year old child in the nation’s capital, must be condemned in the strongest words possible. It won’t be wrong to say that we are becoming an ethically and morally bankrupt nation.

Unfortunately, despite a new law in force, sex-related crimes have continued unabated, which only shows that the perpetrators are undeterred by any threat of punishment.

We need proactive measures and a sensitive police force to preempt such heinous crimes. Also, we must make death sentence mandatory in sex-related offences.

Sir,The death of a three months old toddler Afreen after being battered by her father is not only a matter of national shame but a blot to Bangalore, also known as the IT capital of India. This tragedy has provoked widespread outrage. India today prides itself on many of its achievements, the first woman President Pratibha Patil, first woman Speaker of Parliament Meira Kumar, Chairman of ruling Coalition UPA-II Sonia Gandhi etc but unfortunately this is how women get treated! Many of them get killed at birth or infancy because of the dowry system. Thanks to the vibrant media, this case got some attention and became the talking point across India.

But what about the millions of girls who die in oblivion or are killed in the mother’s womb itself? Though we are in 21st Century the truth is that girl children continue to suffer in a largely patriarchal India that has one of the highest female infant mortality rates in the world. This story mirrors the neglect, abuse and social bias that girl children suffer.

Sir,It is most unfortunate that in Punjab ,86 people have died and many have been rendered critically ill due to consumption of Spurious liquor brewed in obscure places,today illicit hooch business has plugged not only in in some packets of Punjab but in many parts of country, only when suh tragedy unfolds, we come to know,otherwise it goes unnoticed.

Spurious liquor does not attract taxes or duties and since it is done clandestinely at obscure places,away from the law--enforcement agencies ,hence there is no quality control. Illicit brewing is absolutely unscientific, crude and lacking in minimum hygiene in preparation, dispensation and storage,

The Punjab Government should set a precedent by ordering immediate fast court trials for the hooch bootleggers,as most of the victims are poor due to cheap availability of Spurious liquor .

Government should give compensation to the victim's families as the deceased are mostly from rural and poor backgrounds. Also the government needs to have strict vigilance against sale of spurious liquor.

Sir — It is unfortunate that more than 85 people died and many others were taken ill due to the consumption of spurious liquor in Punjab. The sale of illicit liquor is a thriving business not only in Punjab but in many parts of the country. In fact, India remains one among the countries with the highest number of alcohol-related deaths. And whenever such a tragedy unfolds, Governments react by imposing a ban on the sale of liquor.

They fail to either bring tighter regulations or crack down on dens, which operate without a licence as they fulfil a demand while making huge profits. People take to illicit liquor as they cannot afford to buy licensed brands. Spurious liquor does not attract taxes or duties and, thus, comes cheap.

The Punjab Government must set a precedent by constituting a Special Investigation Team which must track down all bootleggers in the State. The Union Government, too, must come up with a multi-pronged plan to curb the sale and consumption of toxic alcohol.

The brutal killing of veteran investigative journalist Jyotimroy Dey in broad daylight in India's financial capital of Mumbai is deeply shocking and should cause grave concern.It is a great loss to the nation as whole as he was as one of the finest crime reporters in our country and extensively exposed fearlessly the murky world of crimes. Dey's death proves that Mumbai is still in the stranglehold of a mafia that can strike at will.

The government must give this issue the seriousness it deserves and work toward making the atmosphere safe for journalists to work without fearing for their lives. Media persons' ability to work in an environment free from intimidation has to be ensured. Otherwise even the brave-hearted scribes may not venture into crime reporting Perpetrators of this crime must not go unpunished.

The Mumbai police which have earned many laurels in solving sensitive crimes should put all their energies for bringing not only the foot soldiers who carried out this diabolic murder but also those behind this heinous crime to justice.