Mumbai cops will now counsel first-time sexual offenders

Counseling will be given to molestation accused released on bail

The Nirbhaya squads, formed under the ‘Saksham' initiative to offer support to sexual abuse and assault survivors, will now counsel first-time sexual offenders, police said on Wednesday. "During a meeting of all five Saksham units, we discussed that if an accused in molestation, rape or eve teasing case gets bail, police should request the court to send him for counselling at one of these units," said Charan Gudipati, Forensic psychologist, Mpower - The Foundation. The move has received a mixed response from activists and lawyers.

Confirming the development, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Vishwas Nangre Patil told mid-day, "We will take preventive measures to prevent such crimes, and strict action against accused found to be committing such offences repeatedly. We will also counsel first-time sexual offenders."

The city has four Saksham units

Women rights activist Advocate Abha Singh appreciated the move, but expressed scepticism of its effect on people "with the mindset of hardened criminals".

Women rights activist Advocate Abha Singh told mid-day, "It's a good initiative, as such offences are a product of patriarchy. When boys are not taught at home to respect women, they end up committing such crimes. However, I doubt whether it will change the mindset of hardened criminals. For them, we need the law's iron hand and higher conviction rate in cases of crime against women."

Dr Sujay Kantawala, lawyer, Bombay HC and Abha Singh, advocate, activist

Another activist, Anshu Khanna said that the intensity of correctional interventions must be matched to the level of risk posed by the offender. "Treatment as well as supervision should be longer in duration, applied more frequently and include more contact hours, as assessed risk to reoffend increases. Counselling the accused is a good initiative, but will depend on case-to-case basis, and will have to be assessed to reform people and have a better society.

"The accused should be given a chance to improve. If the effect of counselling is good then the increasing crime rate against women will come down," she added.

Vishwas Nangre Patil, joint CP, Law and Order

Advocate Ghanshyam Mishra said, "The purpose of taking legal action against the accused is that there should be fear of law in him. So, if someone understands and learns through counselling, then he will not commit any crime again."

Dr Sujay Kantawala, a senior lawyer at Bombay High Court, however, said the Nirbhaya squads should solely work for women. "We have to understand the intent in the formation of the Nirbhaya squads--it was only meant for protection of women. I do not see the relevance and purpose for these squads to also counsel the accused. Prevention of crime and a victim-centric justice system are the need of the hour. Our highest priority should be the safety and security of women citizens," he told mid-day.

A police officer told mid-day, "A few days ago a boy was caught teasing a girl at Carter Road, and was brought to the Saksham centre and counselled."

25 cases at 4 units

The city currently has four active Saksham centres--one each in east, west, north, central regions, and they collectively have 25 cases since opening on November 2. The south region unit has not started yet.

Gudipati, a forensic psychologist and the head of the Saksham East Region, told mid-day that not only the survivors, their families are also counselled at the Saksham centres. "While counselling girls, sometimes we find the family members are taunting them, causing them mental distress and depression. In such cases, we also counsel the parents.

"Each survivor is counselled once a week for two hours. The counselling lasts for two to three months," he added.

The squads, comprising women officers, were formed in September following the brutal rape and murder of a woman in Sakinaka, which bore some similarity to the 2012 ‘Nirbhaya' gang rape in Delhi.

Speaking about the cases they get, an officer from a squad said, "Recently, a case under the POCSO Act was registered at Vikhroli police station. A 16-year-old girl had eloped with her lover, married him and they were living together. As the girl was a minor, her father lodged a complaint, and the girl was rescued and sent back to her family, while the lover was arrested."

"She was referred to the Saksham's office where a psychologist is counselling her. During one of the sessions, the psychologist learnt that the girl thought her parents were villains," he added. The Saksham unit has also counselled her parents.

A 16-year-old girl in Shivaji Nagar was counselled after her parents brought her to a Saksham centre fearing she would run away with her boyfriend. The counsellor learnt that her family was also taunting her, so they were also given advice.

25
No. of cases referred to Saksham centres

Nov 2
Day the Saksham centres started in the city