New Delhi, April 20: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions is shocked by the horrific rape and brutal assault on a 5 year old girl, daughter of a daily waged casual labourer, in East Delhi on 15 April. The inaction by the police when the father went to report her missing once again highlights the total indifference and hostility displayed by the police force to any complaints from the poorer sections of society. Timely action by the police to find the child could have prevented the ghastly incident.  Adding insult to injury, the father of the rape survivor was offered a bribe of Rs. 2000 by the police to keep quiet over the matter.
The CITU is outraged by the behavior of an ACP who slapped young women protesters at the hospital where the child was admitted. The CITU condemns the criminal dereliction of duty and blatant violation of laws by the supposed enforcers of law and order, and demands that any policemen or officers guilty of these should be dismissed from service immediately, arrested and cases be registered against them.
For effective deterrence the culprits in all cases of violence against women must be arrested and given quick and severe punishment. The CITU demands that fast track courts should be set up all over the country to ensure speedy punishment of the guilty.
It has been a long standing demand of the CITU that the government must provide crèche and day care facilities, especially in working class areas, in order to provide security and care for the children of workers who are at work.
In Delhi, which has become the crime capital of the country, a review must be made of security provided to VIPs, which should be curtailed sharply in order to free police personnel for duties concerning the common residents of the city.   The government is accountable for the deteriorating law and order situation in the country and must take responsibility for the same.
The CITU calls upon the working class to be in the forefront of struggles to stop the violence against women and children.