Chairperson of National Commission for Women Girija Vyas has decided to raise the issue of growing instances of sexual harassment being reported by women personnel of the Central Reserved Police Force, considered as the world’s largest paramilitary force.

Vyas told The Indian Express that the cases received by the Commission from CRPF women were just the tip of the iceberg given the regimental nature of the force. “We realise that it’s only a few courageous women who have dared to speak up against all odds and they too are being victimised. We cannot allow this to continue.”

The NCW chief was speaking after hearing a woman sub-inspector of CRPF, who is allegedly being victimised by her seniors for her audacity to become the first woman in the force to lodge a complaint of sexual harassment against an Inspector-General way back in 1993. Interestingly, the CRPF Committee on Sexual Harassment had indicted the I-G for misconduct in two cases and even recommended his dismissal. As the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) sits over the sacking recommendation, the police officer has been elevated to the rank of Director-General.

The S-I, who has sought anonymity, is currently posted in Srinagar. She told the NCW that “she was being kept under a virtual house arrest for the last six months and even her parents did not know where she was.” She said her two-day leave was sanctioned only after she had contacted the local police and complained of wrongful confinement.

After hearing the S-I, Vyas said she would meet Home Minister Shivraj Patil to seek transfer of the woman from the Valley as an immediate relief. Vyas said that the Commission had already received four complaints of sexual harassment from the CRPF. “What is more shocking is the total apathy of senior officers to the continued harassment of these women and a retrograde culture of continued victimisation instead of grievance redressal.”

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