Congress demands action on crimes against women

Patna: Members of the Nari Shakti wing of the state Congress on Saturday organised a women’s safety dialogue near the R-Block roundabout here, citing what they described as a rise in violence against women.Later, they marched from R-Block to the main gate of the state assembly near the Martyrs’ Memorial, seeking to draw the attention of the govt to their concerns. Calling their campaign ‘Shakti Abhiyan’, the members stood at the R-Block roundabout holding placards highlighting their demands. A contingent of police personnel, including women officers, was deployed at the site.“I am from Khagaria, where a four-year-old girl was raped and murdered. She had been playing near her house before the incident. Her body was later found in a mustard field,” said Nutan Kumari. She alleged that the govt’s slogan, “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”, would remain meaningless if “women, girls, students and children are not safe.”She also alleged that police often show little interest when victims and their families approach them to lodge complaints.Several participants also referred to the rape and murder of a NEET student from Jehanabad at a girls’ hostel in Patna.The protesters said despite measures aimed at women’s empowerment, safety remains a pressing concern. Many women, they claimed, increasingly feel unsafe both in public spaces and within their homes.