Indore police create database on paedophiles, other sex-crime convicts

INDORE: Indore-rural police are building a database of all sexual crime offenders of the past 10 years, particularly paedophiles, and knocking on their doors, in a proactive move to ensure women safety.

Senior police officers said that they have already compiled a comprehensive database of 11,259 such people, including those convicted of stalking and passing obscene comments. All of them are being monitored, they said.

This database, irrespective of whether they are first-time or repeat offenders, includes comprehensive information on each former convict, such as their permanent and current addresses, associates, occupation, workplace, family background, criminal history, and bail-related details.

"As part of the campaign, we are actively tracking these individuals and taking preventive measures to curb their activities. We are also working to revoke bail of repeat offenders. In the last two days alone, rural police have compiled records of approximately 1,200 offenders and have taken preventive action against nearly 900 of them," Indore (rural) SP Hitika Vasal said.

Police plan to deploy cops outside big Navratri pandals

"This exercise is meant to ensure the safety of women and to prevent offences against them, especially ahead of Navratri and other festivals,” the SP added.

Police are going to the houses of these former convicts and warning them, in no uncertain terms, that they are under watch. Recognising that many sexual offences are committed by family members or close acquaintances, police have developed a strategy to sensitively handle such families.

According to senior police officials, similar activities are being undertaken in urban areas across MP. Police have also made a plan to deploy cops outside big Navratri pandals and night patrolling during the nine-day-long festival.