Crime against women: Home ministry to set up additional 400 units to probe rape, dowry cases

NEW DELHI: The home ministry is set to announce setting up of 400 additional units to investigate increasing crimes against women such as rape, molestation, dowry deaths, acid attacks and human trafficking.

Home minister Rajnath Singh has given the go-ahead to the project, earmarking Rs 200 crore from Nirbhaya fund, which was announced by the Centre in the 2013-14 budget in the wake of a heinous gang rape and murder in Delhi.

Officials said the Centre and the states will bear the cost of investigation equally under these units.

The Narendra Modi government had in January sanctioned setting up of 150 investigative units for crime against women (IUCAWs).

However, a recent analysis concluded that the number was way too inadequate given the number of cases being reported.

“It was also observed that these specialised units have shown good results and we proposed to increase their numbers,” said a senior government official, who did not wish to be identified.

The units, including the 150 sanctioned in January, will be set up in 550 police districts which are most prone to crimes against women and the states concerned will have the liberty to set up these units in police districts of their choice, the official said.

The states and union territories will be required to adhere to the standard format given by the Centre, as per which each of these units will have 15 personnel, be equipped with specialised investigators and preferably have at least five women in the team.