Bangalore: Govt to formulate guidelines for safety of girl students
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jun 25: Consequent to the abduction and brutal gang-rape of a medical student in Manipal University, the State Government will soon formulate a set of guidelines to be implemented by all universities and educational institutions of higher learning in Karnataka to ensure security and safety for girl students on campuses.
Home Department officials were preparing guidelines to ensure safety for girl students on university campuses, Home Minister K J George told reporters in Bangalore on Tuesday.
The guidelines were also aimed at prevention of kidnapping and gang rape cases, as had happened in Manipal, anywhere else in the future.
George said the educational institutions and universities have been advised to install CCTV cameras on their campus.
The guidelines, however, would not hold head or principals of the institutions responsible in the case of rape or kidnapping cases, the minister explained.
“The guidelines are only precautionary steps to be taken by the university officials,” the minister said.
He said the guidelines would be despatched to educational institutions shortly.
Investigation In Manipal Case
The investigation into the gang-rape case in Manipal was progressing in a right direction and the police were given complete freedom to conduct the probe.
In case of Udupi police failed to nab culprits involved in the incident, he said a team of police officials from Bangalore would be sent to the coastal district to step up the investigation.
“We have to wait for some time. I cannot put pressure on police to complete the probe. The victim is recovering and her statements are crucial for further investigation,” the Home Minister said.
A large number of policemen have been divided into eight special teams and these teams were working on the case.
The police would get leads once the victim begins communication with the police.
"We have already released a sketch of the culprits based on the description given by the victim and the sketch has been widely circulated through the media,” he said adding: "We hope to get a breakthrough soon.”
As of now, however, he said the police were interacting with the medical student only through doctors.
10 Special Courts Planned
The Home Minister said 10 Special Courts were proposed to be set up in the State to try rape case and ensure their time-bound disposal.
The main objective of the special courts was to ensure speedy trials in cases of sexual offences against women.
A decision on setting up of special courts would be taken up in 3 to 4 days after consultation of with the officials of the judiciary in the State, George said.
The State Government has asked video game parlours and discotheques to install CCTV cameras to check illegal activities.
He said the State Government would not grant permission to live bands in Bangalore City and other parts of the State.
No Permission to Live Bands
No license has been issued so far live bands while there was no need to obtain licenses to open video game parlours.
Unfortunately, video games parlours turned into gambling centres and the police would act against such activities, he said.
The Minister, who chaired meeting with the stakeholders of video parlours and discotheques of the City last week, said granting licenses to live-bands was strictly prohibited under the law.
Owners of video parlours and discotheques have agreed to install CCTV cameras, he said.
In the name of entertainment, the minister said some video parlours and owners of discotheques had indulged in illegal activities, which was against the law.
Under the law, only customers and patrons have the right to dance in discotheques.
Women employees have also been barred from dancing in bars and restaurants and discotheques as per the directions of the High Court, he explained.
The police officers were told to act against illegal bars and restaurants holding live bands and obscene dance, the Minister said.