The horrific Bulandshahr incident, wherein a 13-year-old girl and her mother were dragged to a field and gang-raped for more than three hours, was yet to fade from the public memory when an even more horrendous crime took place on the Jewar highway. A man was shot dead and four women of the family were gang-raped.
The highways are fast becoming a hub of criminals. May be that is the reason that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is mulling over deploying the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to secure the National Highways in the Delhi sector. Sources in the force told DNA that a proposal has already been prepared in this regard.
DNA accessed a letter dated October 24, 2000, written by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), which read: "NHAI feels that to safeguard and protect National Highways, deployment of CISF personnel would be a good option." Sources in the ministry further said the Jammu region, NH 28 and 27 (Muzaffarpur to Bathnakuti and Muzaffarpur to Phoolparas and Purnia to Koshi Bridge) are also being considered.
The people’s voice
Crimes on highways are on a rise. Providing security will benefit both the commuters and the NHAI.
— Ankur Saxena, Advertising professional
This is not a permanent solution. To curb crime, we need to touch, move, and inspire people.
— Bhrigu Bagga, Journalism student
This is a great move, GPS and CCTVs should also be made compulsory at check posts on isolated highways.
— Saquib Siddhqui, IT professional
Armed men in uniform will at least generate a fear among miscreants. CCTV installation will also help.
— Munish Bagga, employed at a school
Highway horrors
2017: Three men gang raped a 22-year-old woman in Gurugram after throwing her nine-month-old daughter out of the auto near NH 8.
2017: Six robbers attacked and looted a family on the Jewar-Bulandshahr highway in Greater Noida.
2016: Criminals stopped a car and dragged a 13-year-old girl and her mother to a field, where they raped them for 3 hours.
2016: A businessman's SUV was robbed near Shankar Chowk on NH 8.
