The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Mumbai has demanded that women’s hostels across Maharashtra have increased security measures following the recent rape and murder of a teenage girl in a hostel in South Mumbai. The NCP delegation submitted a memorandum outlining their demands for women’s safety to the director general of police (DGP) Rajnish Seth. The police have confirmed that the culprit, a laundry man who worked as a security guard, raped and strangled the girl to death in her fourth-floor hostel room. After committing the crime, the guard died by coming in front of a local train.
The NCP spokesperson, Mahesh Tapase, has suggested that female police officials regularly visit all government, semi-government, and private women’s hostels to ensure that security measures are in place, review them and collect confidential information about male staff and potential predators in the area. In addition, he proposed regular counselling sessions for both hostel inmates and staff, as well as increased compilation of information about staff from other states in the country.
The victim’s father has blamed the hostel administration for not taking proper measures to ensure the safety of the students. The NCP has also highlighted the importance of implementing the Shakti act, aimed at curbing heinous crimes against women and children in Maharashtra, and its punishments, including the death penalty, life sentence, and heavy fines.
Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Ajit Pawar from the NCP visited the Marine Drive police station where the case is registered to show his support to the girl’s family. The NCP’s demands have come after this unfortunate incident to ensure the safety and security of women across Maharashtra.
