Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday said the government was working towards bringing more tougher laws and fast-track courts to try cases like the "shameful" December 16 gang-rape to instill confidence among women in the country.
Addressing Delhi Police personnel after taking salute at the 66th Raising Day Parade in New Delhi, Shinde asked the force to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future and be more sensitive towards people's needs.
"In a society there is no place for such shameful incidents. We should make sure that such incidents do not happen again....The government is working towards setting up fast-track courts and enacting tougher laws. The government is working to make the laws tougher," he said.
Shinde, who began his career as a police constable, also lauded the Delhi Police for acting "promptly" and nabbing the accused within 24 hours and filing a charge-sheet in the case in 18 days.
Noting that more steps are needed for ensuring safety of women, he said the Delhi Police has taken several steps after the gang-rape of the 23-year-old paramedical student and hoped that they will instill confidence in women.
"Although the police job is to maintain law and order, public comes to police for all the problems, so we need to make the working of police more transparent and sensitive...police should be friends of the people," he said.
Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar termed the gang-rape as a "horrific" incident and spoke about the anger of people on the streets of Delhi after the incident.
"Delhiites came on to the streets to express their anger on the incident. Their anger which was probably against the laws they expressed it on police. During the protests, one of our police constable lost his life and many police officers were injured in the protests," he said, adding that the case was solved within 24 hours.
Public opinion and media was painting a "negative picture" of the force after the incident, Kumar said and added that the government of India, especially the Home Ministry stood by the Delhi Police during the time.
"I thank Sushilkumar Shinde and RPN Singh for their support," he said.
The Home Minister also praised Delhi Police for solving the Pune Blast case by arresting five Indian Mujahideen terrorists.
Shinde also said the Home Ministry has sanctioned another 370 PCR vans for Delhi Police as well as additional women police personnel.
Kumar outlined the steps taken to ensure women's safety in the capital and spoke about the performance of Delhi Police in the last one year.
He said the Delhi Police will soon launch 'Martyr's Fund' which would be funded by police personnel who will contribute their one day salary.
"This money will be used to help the family members of the martyrs' and education for their children and families," he said.
Kumar also said the Delhi Police has increased the number of '100' helpline numbers from 60 to 100.
