Mysuru: In order to curb atrocities against women and children occurring in Mysuru district and to create awareness among the people, a Special Task Force (STF) is being constituted which will start functioning from Feb. 8, said Superintendent of Police Ravi D. Channannavar.

He was addressing the members of the Self Help Groups (SHGs) at the SP Office auditorium at a programme organised by the Women and Child Welfare Department, after listening to the views and suggestions offered by 34 persons belonging to various NGOs regarding the role of Police and women organisations to curb the incidents.

In STF there will be a Sub-Inspector, two Assistant Sub-Inspectors, and including  women Constables, there will be ten staff.

Two vans will be provided to this Force, he said.

The Force will start the operations first in Periyapatna, Hunsur, H.D. Kote taluks from  Feb.8. In later days, it will be expanded to all other taluks in the district, he added.

The STF will register Suo Moto cases against those who indulge in eve teasing, pushing children into begging, child marriages and child labour practices. Apart from this, through street plays and seminars, awareness will be created, he said.

No officer can say that the problems of women and children are not related to the Police Department. If anyone says that then it becomes an irresponsible statement and dereliction of duty. Action will be taken against such officers, he said.

In spite of the atrocities taking place, no one gives a complaint, then the Police will file Suo Moto cases and begin the investigations. To create awareness about the problems faced by women and children, programmes will be organised at School and College levels, he said.

Women and Child Welfare Department Deputy Director K. Radha said that if they receive information about atrocities on women and children, then the Department would view it seriously and not ignore it at any cost. The Police Department’s cooperation is very essential for the implementation of every programme and to stop the atrocities, she added.

“Since the past three years we have been trying to see that we can declare at least one village as child marriage-free village. But we get reports of at least one or two child marriages. In the tribal hamlets if the minors runaway to the forest and return after a week, they are assumed to be man and wife,” she said.

According to Radha, even though lot of efforts have been made to stop this practice, the tribals are not cooperating. After the minors get married and have children, then it comes to light. Since it is viewed with a compassionate angle, no cases are being registered. This itself is looked upon as weakness and the practice of child marriage is continuing.

In the light of this, if cases are registered against one or two people, then the message will go that it is illegal and such incidences could go down, she felt.

ASP N. Rudramuni and other Department officials were present during the meeting.