Q&A: ‘Empower women to freely report atrocities to police’
Bengaluru: Rohini Katoch Sepat, IPS, who took over as Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East Division) on August 2 has her task cut out after being entrusted with the charge of investigating the high-profile Vibgyor school rape case. In a chat with Deccan Chronicle this doctor turned IPS officer talked about the challenges she will have to face at her new posting.
What’s your view on the increasing crimes against women and children in the city of Bengaluru?
Not only prevention of crimes against women and children, but also empowering them to be able to freely come forward and lodge complaints for the atrocities that are committed on them. They should freely approach the police with their problems without hesitation, and insecurity whatsoever related to their safety. And last but not the least, the aim is to definitely prevent these sort of incidents that happened in the recent past.
How does it feel to be the youngest IPS woman police officer serving as Deputy Commissioner of Police, South East Division in Bengaluru?
I did not realize the news that I was the youngest IPS officer in the city. I am an IPS from the 2008 batch. It’s good to be in the city and there is lot of work and I just feel good about my work. Comparing with my old designation as Superintendent of Police, Koppal, this designation is different and each job has its own challenges.
What are the immediate challenges that you are facing as soon as you took up this designation?
I am only 24 hours into the post. Let me analyse and study the cases assigned to me first then I will probably be able to answer the questions of yours. I am only hours old into my new posting.
What do you have to comment on the first case that you have been assigned - the Vibgyor six-year-old rape case?
Regarding the investigations, I would not like to comment because until unless we have been able to complete the investigations. We will be able to give a proper picture to everybody only once the investigations are over, but in the middle of the investigations, it’s not proper for me to comment. The job has been assigned to me, and once I complete it, I will make it public. I understand the inquisitiveness of everybody regarding this case, but one will have to wait until the investigations are over.
What do you think of M.N. Reddi’s new drive of nabbing eve-teasers and men who outrage the modesty of women?
No comments.
Do you think women police constables are safe within their department? Do they have challenges especially when senior male officers try to exploit them?
Of course yes, they are safe, but women officers do have challenges. Police department is also a system that keeps on evolving. And yes there are challenges and we are also evolving to those challenges.
