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MP has no special cells to protect inter-caste married couples

Indore: State government has failed to form district special cells across state and take steps to deal with security threats faced by newly married inter-caste and inter-religion couple despite year-old Supreme Court orders making it mandatory.

The Apex court also asked state government to launch dedicated 24*7 helpline numbers along with identification of such parts of the state that witnessed any incident of honour killing in last five years.

But, officials were not only clueless about special cell but also about identification of parts of state about any such incident.

In March 2018, when Apex court in Shakti Vahini vs State of Madhya Pradesh directed state government for identification of areas, which witnessed incidents of honour killing or violence against couple, formation of special cells, launching helpline number, providing police security, making safe houses, trail of cases pertaining to honour killing and violence to such couple in fast track court on daily basis.

Additional directorate general in charge of crime against women Avnesh Manglam said that all superintendents of police were directed in accordance to Apex court order a year back. SPs were also asked to go through Apex court order in case necessity arises, said Manglam.

Manglam on helpline number said that the lines are required to be popular among by public for proper utilization. The police helpline numbers like 100, 1090 are very popular across country and common man can approach police officials through it. Otherwise, there are so many helpline numbers, which are useless because they are not known to common man, Manglam added.

On the question of identification of parts of state, where such incidents had taken place in the last few years, Manglam said, “The order specifies about khap panchayat, which is not a common phenomenon in MP. But, we have issued instructions to SPs that if any such incidents come up, it should be taken care of,” Manglam added.

The SPs directed all police station in charge and sub-divisional officer of police in accordance to order received from government and they take action in any complaint received by them, said Manglam.

“We have also sent a proposal to government to build a composite building as safe houses in every district, so that ground floor is utilized for government offices and rest for providing safety to such couples. The state cabinet has to decide on this matter,” Manglam said.

Case1: HC directs SP for giving police protection to newly married inter-caste couple

Indore bench of MP high court has directed Neemuch SP on September 25 to provide police protection a newly married inter-caste couple, who filed a petition in the court through advocate Gaurav Panchal. The petitioners, who are major, sought police protection on ground that their relatives and members of society are harassing them for entering into wedlock. They filed petition being aggrieved by the inaction of police officials in their case.

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