Kolkata Police instructed to react immediately to complaints of crime against women

In the backdrop of Hyderabad rape and murder that shocked the nation, Kolkata Police commissioner Anuj Sharma has instructed officers to be sensitized and respond to SOS, complaints of crime against women immediately on police's internal Whatsapp group.

Sharma asked officers to respond to any complaints against women 'without giving it a single thought'.

"In the backdrop of a sensational incident of crime against woman in Hyderabad, I would request all Deputy Commissioners/Assistant Commissioners/Officer-in-Charges to sensitize the officers and men under their command accordingly. Quick response to any complaint regarding any offence against women is expected. Strong legal action in all such cases should be initiated without a second thought," [sic] Sharma wrote on his Whatsapp group where divisional and senior officers are given instructions from time to time.

The police commissioner stressed the fact that the Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) needs to be followed. "SOPs in regard to what action is to be taken in such cases are already present in police stations. It should be strictly adhered to. Duty officers/AROs/beat officers/patrol parties to be sensitised also. We will follow a 'zero tolerance' policy in this regards," [sic] he further wrote on his group.

This message also comes in the wake of two minor girls being gang-raped in South Kolkata's Kalighat area where two minor boys and a youth were arrested by Kolkata Police in connection with the abduction and gang rape.