The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab has expressed its grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the state, witnessing unprecedented spurt in crime cases, especially against women, leaving the citizenry rue and rant in resignation.In a letter to the Chairperson of Punjab Women's Commission, deputy leader of opposition (Dy LoP) in Punjab Vidhan Sabha, and Jagraon MLA Saravjit Kaur Manuke on Friday said that the atrocities being perpetrated on women had increased manifold in Punjab, leaving the people grumble over the crippling law and order machinery.Referring to the alleged incident of sexual harassment case filed against Lok Insaf Party (LIP) President Simarjit Singh Bains by a woman from Ludhiana, which had been running prominently on all the newspaper channels, Manuke said that the victim had herself divulged details to the media, blaming the political leader.Manuke said "In such a situation it becomes imperative on those at the helms of power to secure justice for the aggrieved, saying Women's Commission could play a pivotal role in the matter by bringing the guilty to justice.
The Dy LoP has urged the chairperson of the Women Commission to pass strict instructions to the police department to secure justice for the victim, stressing the need for constituting a women committee of police force to investigate the case so as to bring the accused to justice, sooner than later.Manuke has also sought police protection for the aggrieved woman from Ludhiana Police dispensation till the investigation was on, adding that Simarjit Singh Bains was an influential leader and enjoying camaraderie with the government in power and could harm the victim.Expressing serious concern over the rise in the crime graph, Manuke said the recent incidents reported from various parts of the state were worrying. The reprehensible acts committed against a 4-year-old girl at Dangar village in Barnala, the atrocities committed against a 6-year-old girl at Jalalpur village in Hoshiarpur, and a 5-year-old girl at Naru Nangal in Hoshiarpur , during the month of October this year alarming, she said.The AAP leader said that, as per reports, from February 2020 to April 2020, the number of cases of domestic violence in Punjab had increased by 31%, and from March 2020 to April 2020, the number of calls made by women at helpline number had increased by 34 per cent, which was a cause of concern, both for the dispensation and the citizens.