Custodial sexual violence against women: urgent call for justice and accountability

As many as 275 cases of sexual violence against women in custody have been reported across the countryfor six years from 2017 to 2022. A maximum of 92 cases have been reported in Uttar Pradesh. Madhya Pradesh ranks next with 43 cases. There may be many incidents of custodial rape where cases are not registered.
If a woman is sexually harassed in custody, the police officer involved, the jailer or whoever is responsible for the custody of the girl is booked under Section 376 (2) of the Indian Penal Code. Police officers and armed security personnel are mostly involved in these crimes. Most of these incidents take place in prisons and places of detention for women.
Each day passes with reports on incidents of sexual violence against women across the country. In this situation, being sexually harassed by those who are supposed to protect women is not tantamount to grazing the crops by the fence?
Women in custody should never be sexually assaulted. The officers involved in sexual violations should be severely punished, regardless of the department they belong to; should be dismissed from government service. Only then will there be hope for justice for the victimized women!