A crusade for victim-centric criminal justice system

MUMBAI: It’s a movement tosoften the hard edges of Indian policing. And it has made itself audible enoughfor theDelhi government to issue a legal order recently asking all policestations in the capital to contact mental health professionals within 24 hoursof receiving any trauma-related case.Psychologist Rajat Mitra, theman behind the Delhi movement, was in Mumbai recently to receive theAshokaFellowship for his work with victims of crime through his NGOSwanchetan.“We’ve succeeded in Delhi. Now we want toinstitutionalise victimology —which aims at putting the victim at thecentre of the criminal justice system—in other cities,’’ hesays. “Our legal system now is accused-centric. There’s a 36-pointcharter for the accused at every police station, but nothing for the way thevictim should be treated.’’Dr Mitra and his team ofmental health professionals have submitted a charter for victims to the NationalHuman Rights Commission (NHRC).One of the demands of this charter isthe presence of a mental health professional during the questioning of traumavictims, especially children.Introduction of proper methods ofinterviewing has also been stressed upon. “We’ve asked that thenumber of times a victim is interviewed be fixed at amaximumofthree,’’ says Mr Mitra. “From what we’veseen at police stations, right now, victims are questioned up to 17 times,beginning with the investigating officer and ending with the DCP. This is aninhuman system which needs reforming.’’According topsychologists, feelings are often as important as facts in solving a crimebecause feelings affect memory and perception. “If a victim, especially aminor, is calmed down before being interviewed, she or he is likely to remembermore details to help the police,’’ says Mr Mitra.The NGOhas also undertaken the training of policeman in dealing with crime victimssince the last three years. A lot of this training is aimed at sensitisation,which is donemainly through roleplay.“There are a lot ofpolicemen who come to us with a swagger, and scoff at ideas like sensitivity,claiming that they have no time for such things. That’s when we haveroleplay.“We call on themost hardened policemen and ask themquestions about their personal sex life before the audience. They usually squirmwith discomfort at that—and we point out that this is how traumatisedvictims of rape, molestation or abuse feel when they are questioned aboutintimate details in a crowded police station, with zero sensitivity. We hopethat some of them get the point and remember it atwork.’’Right now, as they wait for the NHRC to okaytheir charter for victims, Mr Mitra and his group plan to tour various policestations in the country for a focussed awareness campaign.