Khwaja Yunus’s mother seeks justice

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July 5, 2020

In 2003, the city froze in terrified episodes, as blasts shamed two other icons, the Gateway of India and the jewellery hub of Zaveri Bazar. The series of blasts kept on occurring thereafter. In 2006, serial blasts tore through its busy suburban train network during peak hour rush, killing more than 180 people. At 18:45 IST on Monday, 2 December 2002, a bomb was placed under a seat of a B.E.S.T. bus exploded near the busy Ghatkopar station. The bomb was placed in the rear of a bus near the station and killed two people and injured over 50. Ghatkopar being the final stop, all the passengers in the bus had just alighted and passengers for the return trip had not yet entered the bus. The people who were killed were those present in the busy bus station area. Later, the police defused an unexploded bomb from another BEST bus in SEEPZ industrial area at Andheri. The convicts in the 25 August 2003 Mumbai bombings, the twin bomb blasts in Zaveri Bazaar and Gateway of India also confessed to planting the unexploded bomb in the bus in SEEPZ area in suburban Mumbai. Then the police arrested several suspects for the blast. All were acquitted in the following trials. One of the arrested was Khwaja Yunus, who died in police custody due to cruelty caused by cops. The accused policemen were being tried in a fast track court. Look at the irony, the one who died in police custody was not a saint for sure and the police those accused of death were facing legal actions against them.

These cops were under tremendous media and court trials. Some journalists went on calling them corrupts and dirty harries, those days the media were divided. Some were hell-bent on emphasizing the human rights of suspects and accused persons in blasts, and some were rational enough in calling it a spread. More than the suspects, those innocents who were killed in the blast too deserved justice. But we all know how our judiciary functions, Mumbai was scared and tarnished in so-called revenge. This was the first in a series of five bombings against the city within a period of fewer than nine months.

Formerly, in November 2008, there was a 60-hour siege of the city in what turned out to be the largest terror strike in India. Attacks on the railway station, luxury hotels, and a Jewish cultural center claimed 166 lives. It drew Mumbai and India into global terror, and was the true successor to the 1993 bombings, in terms of trauma. Sachin Vaze was part of the encounter squad with former police inspector Pradeep Sharma, now a Shiv Sena worker who contested and faced a humiliating defeat in 2019 on Sena’s ticked. Retired ACP Praful Bhosle, police inspector Dayanand Nayak and others in the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of the Mumbai Police. Vaze was accused of covering up the custodial death. He has also been charged with creating a scene that Yunus escaped from the custody near Partner in Ahmednagar district while he was taking him to Parbhani for investigation. There were many theories and trials in this case but somewhere, Waze was boasting confident of his “innocence” in this case. Investigations by the state CID in 2003 found that Waze’s escape theory was false and that Yunus actually died in police custody. Waze was suspended for being responsible for Yunus’ death. Later, in 2007, the investigations were getting lengthy and Sachin resigned from the Police force and joined Shiv Sena. But in 2020, after Maha Vikas Aghadi came to power with Shiv Sena leader as CM, Vaze was taken back to the department.

Yunus’ elder brother Sayyed Khwaja Hussain, says his brother’s death has destroyed the family. His father Sayyed Khwaja Ayub, a retired official with the state government’s health department, died in 2004 because of the shock of Yunus’ death. His mother Aasiya Begum, has filed a habeas corpus petition in the Bombay High Court. The family is depressed because of the delay in “justice”. Aasiya Begum, an asthma patient, who is sick most of the time, economically weak and cannot afford the frequent trips to Mumbai that is 600 km from Parbhani just to attend the court hearings. The petition was followed by a notice sent to the two through a lawyer after the four policemen were reinstated last month as per a decision by a review committee headed by the police chief. The Bombay high Court directed Mumbai police commissioner’s office to file a reply on a petition filed by Asiya Begam, in connection with the reinstatement of four suspended policemen facing trial for his custodial death. In a reply sent by the office of the commissioner of police on June 22 to the initial contempt notice sent on behalf of Begam, the police had said the 2004 order of the High Court was complied with as the men were suspended after the order. It also said that the order did not have any specific directions regarding the reinstatement of the men.

Khwaja Yunus haunts Mumbai Cops: Bombay HC asks CP office to file a reply to petition

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 5, 2020

Asiya Begam, the mother of 27-year-old Khwaja Yunus, in connection with the restoration of four suspended policemen facing trial for his custodial death. The court has given the respondents two weeks to file a reply.

Begam, a 72-year-old Parbhani resident, had filed a plea last month stating that the city police chief and the principal secretary of the Home department be held guilty for contempt of the High Court’s 2004 order directing the state government to suspend the four policemen and initiate an inquiry against them.

The petition was followed by a notice sent to the two through a lawyer after the four policemen were reinstated last month as per a decision by a review committee headed by the police chief.

Yunus, an engineer who worked in Dubai, was arrested with three others under the Prevention of Terrorism Act on December 25, 2002, by the Mumbai Police which claimed that he was involved in a bomb blast in Ghatkopar on December 2 that year. The four men were interrogated by the police and Yunus was last seen by the three others on January 6, 2003, when they claimed that he was being brutally assaulted by the police. Police have maintained that Yunus had escaped from custody.

On a petition filed by Yunus’ family and based on the statements of the three men arrested with him, who were subsequently acquitted of all charges, a probe was ordered and the CID concluded that Yunus had not escaped from custody, but was killed.

The four policemen who were suspended in 2004 —Assistant police Inspector Sachin Vaze and three constables Rajendra Tiwari, Sunil Desai and Rajaram Nikam — are facing trial on charges of murder and destruction of evidence. In a reply sent by the office of the commissioner of police on June 22 to the initial contempt notice sent on behalf of Begam, the police had said the 2004 order of the High Court was complied with as the men were suspended after the order. It also said that the order did not have any specific directions regarding the reinstatement of the men.

Why Hong Kong matters so much to the world?

By

Rajesh Sharma

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July 5, 2020

Hong Kong, Hong Kong Protest, Rajesh Sharma, China, People's Party, Chinese Party, China in Hong Kong — Image Courtesy: Reuters

The fall of communism was the key event in catalyzing globalization but not in China. Beijing passed the wide reaching legislation in June 2020.

Hong Kong is entering a new era of a Reign of Terror. This legislation cuts the fundamental freedom of the Hong Kong people.

Hong Kong has already lost his freedom this year because of Draconian National Security Law, now China can do whatever they please. They can send their police, or maybe 10,000 military personnel into Hong Kong one day. They have their own prosecutors, lawyers and they can appoint their own judge without going through the Hong Kong final Court of Appeal. China can even transfer whichsoever suspect they want to the mainland and have trial, as they can do whatever they like. There is no limit on detention before trial, there’s literally nothing. It’s a lawless country.

China is basically a gangster land, so there’s no nation, there’s no government, everything belong to the party and the party is really consisting of a few families linked to crimes and is dominated by them. The country is a facade, right government is a facade behind every government official, there’s a party secretary, pulling the trigger behind every business even there is a party secretary pulling all the strings.

There are free Chinese and then there are the forcefully manipulated Chinese, that is the case. And the latter does not want the free Chinese to survive. CCP want a free Chinese to live the same way as they do. That’s what the law is for in Hong Kong. Chinese Communist Party threatened people with life imprisonment but you still had a large number of Hong Kong protesters raise their voices every day.

Chinese Communist Party uses Hong Kong as its business hub to reach the World. Following now they want to use them not only as a free trade hub but as a front facing mask to receive the different kinds of trade benefits that Hong Kong alone was previously given.

Hong Kong has fallen, its going to be a dead city and the world doesn’t wants to buy anything from Chinese economy.

This declaration could mean significant Fallout for one of the world’s largest financial centres. Hong Kong that we knew as big Asian financial hub is going to change in certain ways, companies may be incentivized to move away from the city and in fact, there may be a brain drain of the talented people who doesn’t want these kind of restrictions that Beijing will impose, they may feel incentivized to move out of HK.

The potential fall of Hong Kong means something to the world that matters because Hong Kong share the same universal value with a whole world except China. It’s the freedom and the value we share.

It’s between the civilized world against the barbaric world. China’s CCP legislate the law, the National Security Law on HK as a barbaric. CCP is still in Middle Ages, we live in a civilized world where we have a law, it has to go through lots of government process first democracy and voting. All CCP did in HK is come up with law and then published it in Hong Kong because that is how CCP works.

Maha govt’s priority is to tackle COVID-19 crisis: Tourism Min Aaditya

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 5, 2020

State minister Aaditya Thackeray says the priority of the government is to tackle the pandemic situation and other things are secondary. The state environment and tourism minister was talking to reporters in Thane while he was there to take stock of the COVID-19 situation and measures undertaken by civic bodies in the district to contain the disease.

Asked about the opposition’s criticism that the government was unable to properly tackle the COVID-19 crisis, Thackeray said, “Let them do their work, we will keep on doing our work. Our priority at present is to deal with the COVID-19 situation and break the virus chain, other things are secondary.” The Shiv Sena MLA also launched an app developed by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) for online hospital bed allocation and ambulance booking. Addressing a COVID-19 review meeting at the TMC headquarters here, Thackeray stressed on the need for increased contact-tracing and maintenance of good facilities at the quarantine centres.

He asked the civic officials to periodically inspect the quarantine centres and check various facilities, including the food supplied there. He also suggested for increasing the testing capacity.

The review meeting was attended by Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde, Mayor Naresh Mhaske and other senior leaders from the district. The TMC already has a dashboard providing information about the availability of beds in Thane hospitals and the COVID-19 situation in the city.

Why is there no trust in the police like the Indian Army?

By

Priyanka Saurabh

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July 5, 2020

Across the country, we hear the incidents of death and torture of those detained by the police. The result of which the image of the police is stained. Not only this, but the cruelty of police is also born in people of criminal tendencies. The encounters with the policemen and the martyrdom of the policemen in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana just like this, pointing to the disintegrating criminal judicial system of India. It reveals the need for police reform. The image of the police in most of the states in the country has been dictatorial, not friendly with the public, and abusing their rights.

Many such stories are heard and read every day, in which their rights are abused by the police. Words like torture, cruelty, inhumane behavior, robbery, extortion, bribery, etc. are flashed in the mind as soon as the police are named. Along with the improvement of policing in the country today, the issue of proper use of judicial procedures is also important, as it is often seen that judicial magistrates do not consider their relevance while accepting the plea in the context of remand and they do not consider the relevance of the human rights under the effect of police.

Protests in the US against racism and police brutality have given a message of India’s need to reform its police system. This is the reason why Vice President of India M Venkaiah Naidu has emphasized the need for policing and policing of the police station to be centered and soft on society. Addressing a national seminar on smart policing, he suggested making maximum use of IT capability in investigation and security and security management. Vice President Naidu also emphasized lack of personnel, modern weapons, improvement in transport and communication facilities, and other aspects of police reform as suggested by the Supreme Court.

Police are the subject of the state list, so each state of India has its police force. To assist the states, the center has also been allowed to maintain police forces so that law and order situation can be ensured. But the state governments have a monopoly on the police. Due to which uniformity in policing across the country is not possible. It has also been observed that due to strict adherence to rules and laws, criminals are very much afraid of the police of a particular state and they are not even afraid of the police of some states. Our police are still in the grip of the traditional British Raj mentality regarding their loyalty and professional capabilities. All the states have their laws, different alliances are seen in the relationship between the politicians and the police so that the police of one state is not able to fully cooperate with the police of the other state, then only the criminals are not involved.

30% of vacancies still exist in police forces which is the biggest problem. Due to which police work under pressure, in India (in 2017) there were 131 police officers per 100,000 people; While the accepted number is (181) and the recommended number (222) from the United Nations, which is half of the international standard. The slow filling of vacancies in the police exacerbates the difficult situation. As of January 2020, more than 5 lakh vacancies exist in police forces. They are paid less and take more work than developed countries, which promotes corrupt conduct. This is the reason why usually corrupt policemen look at the leaders and hide their prejudices under pressure. Which makes their performance inappropriate.

Allegations such as unidentified arrests, illegal searches, torture and custodial rape on police misconduct are dark spot to his image. People generally consider conversations with the police to be frustrating, time-consuming and pocket-cutting, people consider the Indian police as a stick and find ways to avoid them . They also have departmental deficiencies, 86% of police force constables, who have nothing but a promotion (head constable) before retiring. Repeated transfers undermine the accountability of police actions and the inability to implement long-term reforms, as well as motivate them to adopt corrupt avenues and undermine policy credibility. State governments also misuse police administration many times. Sometimes to deal with their political opponents or sometimes to hide any of their failures. This is the main reason why the state governments are not ready for police reform. One study found that people trust the Indian Army more than the Indian police.

Most of the states of India have made their police laws based on the British Police Act, 1861, due to which all these laws are not in conformity with the existing democratic system of India. As India is making rapid progress towards becoming an economic and political superpower, our police cannot remain frozen in the frame of the previous era. There is an urgent need to strengthen the criminal justice system and our grassroots police institutions to prepare our police to meet the current and emerging challenges; In addition to the 33 percent participation of women, a department should also be discussed to check the autocracy of the police.

Police reforms are not implemented due to lack of political will, so an independent complaints authority needs to be at the center level to investigate complaints of police misconduct. Creating a uniform wage increase across the country to improve its infrastructure. Which can reduce the incentive for corruption, they can be important in police reform. The police system today needs a new direction, new thinking, and new dimensions. The police need to become civil liberties, aware of human rights, sensitive towards the oppressed deprived sections of the society. It is seen that the police adopt a soft and strict attitude towards people with influence and money, which makes it difficult for them to get public support.

The century has changed, the social environment of the country has changed completely. Today we need the People’s Police. A policy that is strict and sensitive, modern and mobile, alert and accountable, reliable and responsible, tech-savvy, and trained. But we also have to understand that the police are friends of citizens and law and order cannot be followed without their cooperation. We cannot reform the police by being a silent spectator or commenting on the administration or taking out candlelight marches or expressing our views on social sites. Every citizen should now press for political parties across the country to include police reform as a mandatory issue in their election manifesto.

Kanpur Encounter: Cop killer and Vikas Dubey’s accomplice arrested

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 5, 2020

The Kanpur police on Sunday morning after a brief encounter arrested a member of Vikas Dubey gang, who was one of the killers who butchered eight Uttar Pradesh policemen.

According to SSP Kanpur Dinesh Kumar, Daya Shankar Agnihotri, 42, was intercepted by the police around 4.40 a.m. in Kalyanpur area.

“He tried to escape and the police team shot at his leg. He has been arrested,” the SSP said. A country made firearm and cartridges have been recovered from his possession.

Agnihotri is one of the accused in the killing of eight policemen on Friday in Bikru village.

The police said that Agnihotri will be interrogated by various agencies probing the Friday incident and could provide vital clues in the case.

Navi Mumbai under complete lockdown: NMMC has re-imposed the lockdown for 10 days

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 3, 2020

As the COVID-19 cases are rising, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has re-imposed the lockdown for 10 days, starting from July 3 to July 13. Lockdown will be applicable within the limits of Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation. The transportation of essential and perishable items will be allowed. Intercity, MSRTC buses and all public transport services (excluding suburban railway services introduced by the government for essential services) will not be allowed except for emergency services. Every person who is quarantined in the house must abide by the rules strictly, otherwise he/she will be liable for severe punitive action and he/she will be shifted to the municipal quarantine Centre. All residents will remain at home and will only come out for work that is permitted, strictly following the rules of social distancing. Taxis, auto rickshaws are not allowed. However, passenger transport will be permitted to receive / deliver emergency medical services. The order will allow private vehicles with only one passenger other than the driver, essential commodities, healthcare and other activities permitted under the order.

All interstate bus and passenger transport services (including private vehicles), as well as those operated by private operators, will be closed however outbound vehicles will be allowed. Not more than five people are allowed to gather in public any places. Commercial Establishment Offices and Factories, Workshops, Warehouses etc. (except Mumbai Agricultural Produce Market Committee and Thane Belapur TTC Industrial Area) all shops will be closed. However, continuous processing and pharmaceuticals etc. required production and manufacturing units will be permitted. Permission will be granted to operate manufacturing units engaged in production of essential commodities of pulses and rice mills, food and allied industries, dairies, food and fodder, etc. Government offices will be allowed to operate with a minimum number of staff during this period and will take steps to ensure a social distance of 6 feet from each other near the check counter. They will ensure proper hygiene and (hand) sanitizers/hand washing facilities on their premises.

The shops/establishments providing essential goods would be open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. All these shops should try to sell goods from their shop through home delivery service if possible. However, the medical stores, hospitals, clinics/ LPG Gas Cylinder/lift Repair Shops are excluded from these rules. All security and facility management services (including through a private agency) are provided to the organizations providing the required services. Liquor stores will only allow home delivery.

Implementation of lockdown will be applicable in villages and slums within MIDC limits. State Government Departments/Offices and Service Providers Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) will operate only to the extent of providing essential services. Any person/entity violating any provision of these rules shall be prosecuted under Sections 51 to 60 of the Infectious Diseases Act, 1897, Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

Covid-19: Mumbai is back to square one

By

Vaidehi Taman

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July 3, 2020

Thousands of cars impounded, people were slapped with challans and above all lock down once again had crippled the life of Mumbaikar. As many as 4,938 police personnel in Maharashtra have tested positive for coronavirus so far and 60 of them have succumbed to the viral infection, 38 of the 60 deceased were from the Mumbai Police force. As many as 3,813 of the 4,938 infected police personnel have recovered from COVID-19 disease while over 1,000 others are currently under treatment. The number of the offences registered under section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has risen to 1,39,702 since the lockdown came into force. A total of 29,298 arrests were made for violation of the lockdown norms and 85,780 vehicles impounded. There have been 290 instances of assaults on policemen and 860 arrests were made. The state’s virus tally crosses 1.86 lakh while Mumbai’s case count reaches 80,699. Maharashtra reported its highest ever single-day spike in new Covid-19 cases at 6,330, taking the state’s tally to 1,86,626. This is the first time the state saw over 6,000 new cases. The number of active cases, however, are at 77,260 in the state and the total number of patients discharged so far are 1,01,172. Mumbai, reported 1,554 new cases today taking the maximum city’s tally to 80,699. With 57 new deaths reported today, Mumbai’s death toll stands at 4,689. Number of active cases in Mumbai are at 25,311 and 50,691 patients have recovered so far.

Thane is the next biggest contributor with 349 new cases as of Friday with the total number of cases reaching 41,349. Number of active cases in Thane are at 23,880 and 16,443 patients have recovered so far. The state reported 125 deaths. Of these, 110 deaths occurred in the last 48 hours and the rest 15 are from the previous period. Mortality rate in the state is at 4.38% and recovery rate is at 54.21%. Currently, 5,72,032 people are in home quarantine and 41,741 people are in institutional quarantine. Out of 10,20,368 laboratory samples, 1,86,626 have been tested positive (18.29%) for Covid-19 until today. There are 114 laboratories functional in the state for Covid-19 testing – 64 government ones and 50 private ones. While 7,715 tests are being conducted per 10,00,000 population in the state, the same at the national level is 6,334. By 1 July, 2020, 90,56,173 tests have been done across the country, 11.26% of which have been in Maharashtra.

Even as per reports published around more than 50,000 people have been screened at Mumbai airport including those arriving from Nepal, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia; in addition to those from Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea and japan. 85 passengers who showed symptoms were quarantined and later on, except two, who are under observation, all others were discharged. we all know; the population of Mumbai is too much as compared to its size. People sleep in layers in small rooms. Population density is 76,790 per square mile, approximate Population is 14,350,000 that means 187 Square miles, world’s biggest slum is here in the city. Dharavi is the world’s most populated slum with a population of over one million people. They stay in huge numbers in small rooms. Some of the shacks are right on the gutter and nallahs. There is absolutely no practical way to implement social distancing. They have no money to keep themselves sanitized and they can’t quarantine themselves. For them, living a quarantine life is also inviting death. Which means, if a virus spreads in these areas then it’s almost impossible to contain it

In Maharashtra a number of cases are still in limit considering the population of just one of the cities of Maharashtra that is Mumbai where even if a person sneezes or coughs and if the virus is spreading then there should be at least lakh of cases of coronavirus easily affecting people. Anyway, State governments are taking precautions and that’s one good thing. But how can you stop the lifelines of a city or state, that is local transport which is the place where a jam-packed crowd is there and interacts in all ways and no hygiene can help. And the State Govt. and people are still slow in reacting to any precautions and not like Kerala. Kudos to the Kerala Govt. and especially the people of Kerala who cooperates in all sense to the advisories especially the economically weaker sections like daily wage workers, auto rickshaw drivers. They are promptly supporting the Govt. and its directives rather than worrying about their daily income. While we see in Mumbai, Delhi and other places it is absolutely ridiculous. Neither the State Govt. is strict on implementing precautions nor the people. It’s a casual attitude. Can’t people do away with shopping, roaming around and creating a crowd wherever it is. This clearly shows that State governments and owners are more worried about business than people’s health. Nobody understands the fact that even if 50% of people do not venture out and make a crowd the rest 50% can at least stay at a distance between two people so that the spreading of viruses decreases.

Furthermore, the fake news spread was way faster than the pandemic, some opposition party leaders were assigned to make fast noises and spreads. ‘Fake News Media’ and political opponents were hyping the coronavirus situation, there were videos and voices circulated heavily across social media. Mumbai’s battle against the coronavirus had many hindrances – large crowds, a stretched health system and inadequate infrastructure. But beyond these, familiar foes are rearing their heads: misinformation and fake news. Through its vast social media networks, a wave of inaccuracy is spreading on coronavirus, which causes an illness known as COVID-19. From offering unverified home remedies to tackle the virus, to floating fake advisories asking people to avoid foods such as ice cream and chicken, and sharing conspiracy theories, Indians’ phones are being flooded with misinformation. Above all how Maharashtra CM is incapable and how his government needs to be toppled, if such is the arrogance of people how one can bring harmony and health to state. What we all need to do is, cooperate and come out of the present situation.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

International flights to remain suspended till July 31: DGCA

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 3, 2020

Flight, International Flights, DGCA, Flights, Airlines — Image Courtesy: Bloomberg

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Friday announced extension of the suspension of scheduled international passenger flights in the country till July 31. The aviation regulator, however, said that some international scheduled services on selected routes may be permitted on a case to case basis.

It was on March 23 when India suspended scheduled passenger flights due to the coronavirus crisis and a subsequent lockdown in the country. In a June 26 circular, the DGCA said it was suspending international passenger flights till July 15, 2020. However, it further extended the deadline till July 31, 2020.

“In partial modification of circular dated 26-6-2020, the competent authority has extended the validity of circular issued on the subject cited above regarding scheduled international commercial passenger services to/from India till 2359 hrs IST of 31st July, 2020. This restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by DGCA. However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis.”, a circular released by the DGCA said today.

Air India and other private domestic airlines have been operating unscheduled international repatriation flights under the Vande Bharat Mission, which was started on May 6 by the Central government.

India resumed scheduled domestic passenger flights on May 25, after a gap of two months.

NCW received 2,043 complaints of crimes against women in June, highest in 8 months

By

Afternoon Voice

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July 3, 2020

The NCW received 2,043 complaints of crimes committed against women in June, the highest in the last eight months. According to the National Commission for Women (NCW) data, 452 complaints of domestic violence were received in June alone. Of the 2,043, 603 complaints related to mental and emotional abuse and were filed under the ‘right to live with dignity’ clause.

The number of complaints received in June have been highest since September last year when 2,379 complaints were received, the data showed. NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma attributed the rise in complaints to the increased activity of the commission on social media platforms.

“The complaints have increased because we are very active on social media now and we are registering cases from Twitter and other social media platforms too. We have a WhatsApp number for reporting cases which was not in place earlier. People know that we are helping and that’s why they have more faith in us,” Sharma told a news agency.

The second highest number of complaints were received under the clause of ”Protection of Women against Domestic Violence” at 452, the data showed. Sharma similarly attributed the increase in domestic violence complaints due to the active presence of NCW on social media.

“Same is with the cases of domestic violence. We advertised on Doordarshan at prime time to make women aware of the ways in which they could reach us and also started our emergency WhatsApp helpline number which is an easy way for women to reach out to us. This is the reason why numbers have increased,” she said.

There were 252 complaints of harassment of married women and dowry harassment followed by 194 complaints of outraging modesty of women and molestation, the data showed.