The Hindu : National : Federation protests harassment of girls during raids in U.P.

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Friday, Dec 24, 2004

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National

Federation protests harassment of girls during raids in U.P.

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 23. The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) has strongly protested against the Uttar Pradesh police's `raids' on cyber cafés in Aligarh during which there have been allegations of harassment of girls.

In a statement here today, the NFIW — quoting newspaper reports — said the police had used the pretext to outrage the modesty of young girls and harass and humiliate them.

In the name of checking obscenity, the police personnel themselves engaged in obscene language and gestures.

"It is shocking that the so-called raiding parties were not accompanied by any women police personnel for dealing with girls and that the policemen in question physically intimidated the girls, forcing them to reveal their identities. This kind of obnoxious behaviour is totally unacceptable in a civilised and democratic society," the statement said.

Even assuming that those involved were guilty of some misdemeanour, the actions of the police were legally not permissible. However, going by the media reports it would seem that there was no prima facie case at all, it said.

The NFIW has already written to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, who also holds the Home portfolio, to demand the suspension of the erring policemen and lodging of first information reports against them.

Steps should be taken to ensure that such behaviour does not take place again, the statement said.

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