'Hello! This is the Delhi Police calling'

ldquoHello Irsquom calling from Delhi Police Is the investigation officer properly coordinating your caserdquo Donrsquot be surprised if you receive such a call It could be from one of the area deputy commissioners of police DCPs or joint commissioners of police seeking feedback on your complaint Authorities feel the new initiative will help improve the image of the police who were severely criticised when it batoncharged teargassed and fired water cannon at demonstrators who were demanding better safety for women File pic In rare cases a special commissioner just one step below the police chief could also call These are among the systemic changes in the Delhi Police following the mass outrage over the December 16 gang rape in Delhiu00a0In this initiative top police officers will make calls when the crimes relate to murder kidnapping attempt to murder and robbery But topping the agenda continues to be crimes against women including rapes ldquoThe move was started in the wake of complaints against the investigating officers of not giving proper consideration to cases filed by the victims or their family membersrdquo said a senior police officer The calls from the top cops started after January 16 a month after the young physiotherapist was gang raped by six males The woman died on December 29 in a Singapore hospital where she had been airlifted for specialised treatment The top cops generally ask for the status of the complaints and about the behaviour of the investigating officer or IO as he is generally called while dealing with the case ldquoThe calls are not made every day But certain heinous cases including violence against women are our top priorityrdquo said another officer According to Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat ldquoIt is a feedback exercise which is being conducted by the district police heads and officers with the rank of special commissioner of policerdquo ldquoIt is the duty of the investigating officers to complete the procedure and to file the first information report FIR in time They also have to address the grievances of the complainantsrdquo added Bhagat ldquoWe first send a feedback form to the complainants and if they are not satisfied with the investigation we phone them and assist themrdquo said Deputy Commissioner of Police Sindhu Pillai Delhi Police had faced public anger over the December 16 gang rape and murder of the 23yearold woman It forced the police to take several womenrelated initiatives to make them feel safe on the roads Said 22yearold college student Gayatri Sinha name changed who had registered a case against a man who was harassing her ldquoSuddenly one day I got a call from a police officer on my phone He asked me about the status of the case and about the behaviour of the police officer who is dealing with my caserdquo She added ldquoI was surprised but I was happy too that a senior police officer is trying to find out whether my case is being given proper consideration This is a good way for an interface between police and public Such initiatives create a kind of trust in the system It will also help build a better image of the policerdquo President signs antirape ordinance President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday gave his approval to an ordinance that awards stricter punishment for sexual crimes against women including death sentence in rare instances The Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance 2013 was passed by the cabinet on Friday It is based largely on former chief justice JS Vermarsquos report