Patna: Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Vinay Kumar on Tuesday expressed serious concern over the sharp rise in gang rape cases in the state, stating that such incidents, once rare and strongly condemned by society, had become disturbingly frequent over the past two decades.
Workshop on Gender-Based Violence
Addressing a state-level workshop on gender-based violence at the police headquarters in Patna, Vinay said repeated incidents had gradually led to greater societal tolerance towards such heinous crimes. He pointed out that only around 2% of cases related to sexual harassment and violence are formally reported in Bihar.
The DGP attributed the low reporting rate largely to police indifference and attempts to suppress complaints.
Call for Strict Enforcement
Vinay called for strict enforcement of laws related to crimes against women, including acid attacks and domestic violence. He urged police officers, prosecutors and courts to act swiftly and proactively to ensure timely justice and restore public confidence in the system.
Issuing a stern warning to police personnel, the DGP said officers who fail to treat people with dignity should resign from service.
Criticism of Motihari Incident
Referring to a recent incident in Motihari, Vinay criticised a woman police officer accused of demanding Rs 9,000 from a gang rape survivor for medical examination and court-related work. Describing such conduct as “revictimisation”, he said the police uniform was meant to help people, not harass vulnerable victims.
He warned that officers misusing their authority, including intimidating complainants with weapons, deserved removal from service.
Zero Tolerance for Dowry
The DGP also announced zero tolerance towards dowry practices within the police force. He said personnel found demanding dowry or abandoning their legally wedded wives after joining service to enter into second marriages would face immediate suspension, dismissal and social boycott. Action had already been initiated against several such officers, he added.
Women in Bihar Police
Vinay said women now constitute more than 30% of Bihar Police, with around 11,000 women constables currently under training and dedicated units functioning to address women-related issues. However, he admitted that despite various initiatives and welfare schemes, expected results had not been achieved because of deep-rooted social attitudes.
He stressed that a major change in social mindset was necessary to effectively curb gender-based violence. The DGP directed officers of women police stations to conduct awareness drives at the panchayat level, particularly in rural areas, to educate people about women’s rights and encourage reporting of domestic violence, dowry harassment and sexual crimes.
Gender Violence as Social Issue
Describing gender-based violence as a deep-rooted social issue rather than merely a law-and-order problem, Vinay appealed to women police personnel to deal with victims with empathy and sensitivity.
“Police support is often the only hope for traumatised women and girls,” he said, adding that police must not only arrest criminals but also work towards bringing positive social change by building greater public trust.
He said police would soon launch sustained awareness campaigns and community outreach programmes across districts to create a safer environment for women and strengthen confidence in the force.
