A light to Sex workers

Naseema, the young daughter of a sex worker in this north Bihar district headquarters town, has set a unique example with her dogged determination to bring a new ray of hope for the hapless residents of the local red light area.

Brought up at a brothel in Chaturbhuj Sthan, the infamous red light zone here, Naseema took a vow to rescue those, who were forcibly dragged into prostitution, and devoted herself voluntarily to provide a dignified life to the local sex workers.

After forming a voluntary organisation 'Pracham', Naseema started encouraging the sex workers to give up the oldest profession in the world and choose alternative ways and means to earn their livelihood.

Realising the plight of sex workers, most of whom felt suffocated in the prevailing atmosphere, 26-year-old Naseema started helping them out by providing them with alternative sources of income, which were readily accepted by the hapless women as it also ensured them a dignified life.
   
Naseema has so far been able to change the course of life of over 50 sex workers and their children, born at the brothels of Chaturbhuj Sthan.

Inspired by Naseema's example and determination, the sex workers are gradually giving up their hated profession to embrace the new respectful and dignified life.

Despite facing a lot of obstacles from various quarters at the beginning of her pioneering work, she arranged various trainings for the sex workers in a small rented room near the town's red light area.

Encouraged by her efforts and in their own desperation to quit the profession slowly but steadily, a large number of sex workers started joining the new training courses in stitching, knitting, screen painting and other alternative jobs.

Naseema also started a small library for lending books and magazines to sex workers free of cost, besides enabling them to read and write.

These former sex workers have now formed several cultural and drama groups and with her help they even organise street dramas and small public performances in the red light areas to motivate their former co-workers to give up prostitution.

According to Naseema, 'only those who have experienced the pain and agony of sex workers could bring about a change in their lifestyle and environment.' She also believes that prostitution can never be abolished by force and hopes that instead of abruptly closing down the red light areas without providing any alternative source of income to the sex workers, the administration should come forward with attractive rehabilitation packages.

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Chennai :Prostitution racket busted

Prostitution racket busted

Officials of the Central Crime Branch (CCB)-Chennai police on Friday raided a house in Madambakkam near Tambaram and arrested two persons Mumtaz (37) and Kumar (37) who were allegedly running a prostitution racket there. A case was registered and the two were remanded in judicial custody.

A CCB team led by ACP Jayakumar, on receiving specific information, raided an apartment in Madambakkam and nabbed the couple. A 19-year-old girl, found there, was rescued.

According to police, Mumtaz alias Mariammal, a native of Thoothukudi, moved to Chennai a few years ago. In Chennai, she met Kumar, who was working at a bakery in Tambaram, and the two began running a prostitution racket.

They were allegedly supplied women by a woman living near Pallikaranai who had brokers in various parts of the state.

A senior police official said, "This is an important arrest as we have got a lead on one of the major pimps in south Chennai. We are investigating and are confident she will be caught soon. Once this woman is caught, the networks in various parts of the state will become clearer. This big arrest, after the nabbing of Sona Lakshmi, is part of our efforts to shut down prostitution rackets in the suburbs."

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Indian woman gets 8 yrs for forced prostitution in Malaysia

An Indian national has been convicted and sentenced for eight years for forcing a compatriot into prostitution after promising her a job as maid in this Malaysian capital.

R Punitha, herself a prostitute, pleaded guilty before Judge Mohammed Nasir Mordin. She screamed, cried and hit her head when the sentence was announced, the official Malaysian news agency Bernama reported.
She was charged for exploiting S Maruthambal, 33, through force and threats at a house here.
According to the facts of the case, Maruthambal came under Punitha's care after she was sweet-talked by agents in India that she could get a job as a maid in Malaysia.

During her confinement, Maruthambal was forced to provide sexual services to 20 to 25 men daily and her earnings were taken by Punitha. She was also threatened by Punitha that if she refused, her family in India would be killed by gangsters there.Maruthambal managed to escape to the Indian High Commission before making a police report, The Star newspaper said.

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Bangalore city police Planned for Reduction of crime and accidents by 20 percent

Bangalore, The Bangalore city police unveiled an action plan-2009 which aims at Reduction of crime and accidents by 20 percent, establishment of a central data centre and formation of a fully trained 450 strong commando force, among others.

Other initiatives include procurement of additional quantities of modern arms and ammunition and setting up of a New Bangalore City Website, Bangalore City Police Commissioner Shankar Bidari told a press conference.

Police would strive to achieve the targets set under the six branches--administration, law and order. Efforts would be directed towards bringing down the crime rate, fatal and non-fatal accidents by 20 percent, he said.

A Central data system comprising information on all rowdy elements, crimes and criminals, computerisation of unexecuted warrants, summons received from other states would be set up by March next. Inauguration of new Bangalore city website by February 28 was also on the new year resolution list of the police.

The Security and City Armed Reserve department have chalked out an action plan to set up a fully trained commando force comprising 450 personnel and procure additional quantities of modern arms and ammunition by April 30.

The action plan also included implementation of the orders regarding intimation of tenants and controlling places of amusement and public entertainment. Computeristion of information regarding foreign nationals staying in the city and all those absconding would be done by March 31, he said.

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Men kidnapped for illicit sex, prostitution

It is not women alone who are kidnapped in this country for having sex.
Sixty-seven men were kidnapped in India last year for having sex, which was an increase of about 40 per cent from the 2006's figure of 38 men kidnapped for the same.

Cases of five men being kidnapped for prostitution were also reported in the country during 2007 as against 35 in 2006.

What is more shocking is that eight ladies above the age of 50 were among 2,586 women being kidnapped for sex, according to the latest report prepared by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).

The 'Crime in India -- 2007' report shows that there was a nominal decrease of 12 in the number of women who were kidnapped for sex last year compared to 2,599 in 2006. However, the number of women kidnapped for sex above 50 years was only one.

Women in the age-group of 18 to 30 years were the most vulnerable with 1,608 from the fairer sex becoming victims to kidnapping for sex in 2007 as against 1,488 in 2006.

Cases of kidnapping for prostitution saw 422 women being forced into sex trade along with five men.

As in the above case, women in the age-group of 18 to 30 years were the most vulnerable with 264 women becoming victims to kidnapping for prostitution.

Interestingly, not a single case of kidnapping was registered across the country for selling body or body parts while only 17 cases of kidnapping for begging were reported.

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Korea parents fined for ‘neglected’ son’s sex crime

A South Korean court has fined the parents of a teenage rapist more than $60,000 for failing to supervise their son. The 18-year-old, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, raped a local seven-year-old girl in 2006.

The court said the boy had grown up watching pornography and had imitated a film he had seen during the attack. It said his parents could have prevented the crime with appropriate education, but neglected their duty. The teenager is serving a 10-year sentence for the rape, but a court in Seoul ruled that his parents were also liable for his crime.

A statement said: “The parents could have prevented the crime with appropriate education but failed to show enough attention to their child. “They neglected their duty to raise their child so that he can properly adjust to society.” The girl’s parents were seeking $165,000 in damages. The identities of all the parties involved in the case have been withheld. Analysts say the case raises questions about the extent to which parents can be held responsible for the actions of their children.

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Girl's Basketball Coach Charged With Sex Crime

The Western Guilford High School women's basketball coach has been arrested and charged with taking indecent liberties with a female student.

Greensboro police said Karl Wells turned himself and was released on a written promise to appear.

Police said the alleged incident happened on Oct. 30. Greensboro Capt. Janice Rogers said the girl's mother called authorities after seeing a text message on her daughter's phone.

Greensboro police said the investigation was continuing and anyone with information is asked to call Crimestoppers at 373-1000.

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teen prostitutes:change their future

"I'm their mother," says the founder of a Los Angeles shelter for teen prostitutes. For almost three decades, Children of the Night has focused on helping girls recover from their past rather than treating them like criminals, Good Magazine reports.

Shelter founder Lois Lois "isn’t like other social-service types," said one LAPD officer. "Lois sees the big picture." Despite the success stories—former prostitutes turned doctor or lawyer—many inexorably find their way back to the streets.

Children of the Night, however, offers a lifeline that never disappears "A girl might go back," said Lee. "But will she call me from the hospital if she is dying with AIDS? Yes. And I will go to her and sit by her bed and hold her hand."

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Sarabjit Singh might escape death sentence

Sarabjit Singh, the Indian prisoner on death row in Pakistan - and some 7,000 others might escape the gallows with the law and justice ministry asking the interior ministry to commute all death sentences to life imprisonment.Law and Justice Minister Farooq H. Naek said Friday his ministry has sent a note on this to the interior ministry, which after considering it, will present it to the cabinet for approval. Hopefully the decision will be implemented “soon”, he added.


According to interior ministry records, over 7,000 prisoners in Pakistan have been sentenced to death by different courts. Among them are 35 women and seven foreigners, including two Indians Sarabjit Singh and Kirpal Singh.

Kirpal’s case is not as high profile as Sarabjit’s. He was arrested in 1991 on charges of fabricating bombs and planning to plant these in Lahore. However, his family members have written several letters to Pakistani authorities saying he crossed the border in a stupor. On Thursday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said in a television interview that Sarabjit’s case can be resolved through dialogue.

“Every issue, including this one, can be resolved through dialogue,” the minister replied when specifically asked about Sarabjit, who was awarded the death penalty by an anti-terrorism court in 1991 with the high court upholding this. The Supreme Court rejected his mercy petition in March 2006.

Former military ruler President Pervez Musharraf rejected his mercy petition in March last year but his execution was deferred in April last year for 21 days and again till further orders.Sarabjit’s family members, human rights organisations and the Indian government have urged the president to grant clemency to Singh, who was convicted for his alleged involvement in the 1990 serial bomb blasts in Lahore and Multan that killed 14 people. Singh says he is only a poor farmer and victim of a mistaken identity and had strayed into Pakistan from his village located on the border.

Pakistan’s leading human rights activist Ansar Burney said the interior ministry orders will apply to all prisoners on death row, irrespective of the nature of their crime. “All prisoners who have been awarded capital punishment will benefit from this and their sentences will be converted into life imprisonment,” Burney told IANS.

Burney has for long been lobbying for the move and had also presented a report to Musharraf when he was minister for human rights in the caretaker setup under Musharraf from Nov 2007 to March 2008. “I am really grateful to the government and believe this would be a huge step in recognizing human rights, which is the hallmark of all religions and all societies,” Burney added.

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Terrorist arrested at Lacknow

The Anti-Terrorism Squad of the Uttar Pradesh police on Friday arrested an active member of the Indian Mujahideen from the Gudamba police station area at LUCKNOW.

Mohammad Hakim is an accused in the September 13, 2008, serial bomb blasts in Delhi.

Addressing a press conference on Saturday, State ADG, Law and Order and Crime, Brij Lal said Hakim had enrolled as a final year student in an engineering institute in Lucknow.

He was among the 13 accused in the Delhi blasts case, on whom the Delhi police had announced a reward of Rs.1 lakh each, he said.

Mr. Lal said a Delhi police team had reached Lucknow to take Hakim on transit remand.

A team of the Maharashtra police was also in here in this connection.

Hakim was wanted in five cases lodged by the Delhi police in Karol Bagh, Greater Kailash, Tilak Marg and Connaught Place in connection with the serial blasts.

Interrogation revealed that Hakim was known to other IM members, Atif, Shadab, Zeeshan and Assadullah, Mr. Lal said.

A motorcycle, a driving licence and a student identity card were recovered from Hakim, he said.

During the course of investigation into the blasts, five militants — Mohammad Saif, Zeeshan Ahmed, Mohammad Shakeel, Zia-ur-Rehman and Saquib Nisar — were arrested. Two militants died in a shootout in Batla House in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar.

Six terrorists were arrested in Mumbai.

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Software application help the police to combat the hi-tech world of crime and terror

"The software application, which is in a pilot stage, will help the police and other law enforcement agencies to combat the fast emerging hi-tech world of crime and terror," the Ranbir Singh, Wipro's general manager said in a statement. 

Wipro Infotech has developed an integrated software for the police to combat crime and terror, the IT bellwether announced said.

According to anouncement for government and defence, the software will enable real-time information sharing between the various police units. The online application covers all activities related to the day-to-day functioning of police departments, including the back-end processes of administration, finance and stores.

"We see a huge role for IT in combating high crime rates effectively. The processes have been automated to ease the tasks of administration and record-keeping, thereby bringing in operational efficiency across the police department," Singh said.

The application also has a citizen interface through which complaints can be raised and the status of a lodged FIR (first information report) can be tracked. The user interface can display content both in English and the local language.

The application has operational modules to maintain records in police stations and agencies dealing with crime, law and order, wireless, traffic, intelligence and counter-intelligence. Wipro Infotech is the business unit of the global software major providing IT and business transformation services in India and West Asia, including the Gulf.

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Strength of Judges per million population may be increased

The Law Commission in its 120th Report recommended that the strength of judges per million population may be increased from 10.5 to 50 judges. The present judge strength in India is 14 per million population (approx.). Government has already increased the Judge strength in the High Courts by 152.

With regard to subordinate judiciary, the Supreme court, in its judgement of 21st March, 2002, in All India Judges’ Association & Ors Vs. Union of India & Ors., directed that an increase in the Judge strength from the existing 10.5 per 10 lakh people to 50 judges per 10 lakh people should be effected and implemented within a period of five years in a phased manner to be determined and directed by the Union Ministry of Law. The Central Government have filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court praying that the increase in judge strength in the Union Territories for which Central Government is administratively responsible be allowed based on workload and pendency of cases. The matter is sub-judice. As directed by the apex court, the Central Government also filed an affidavit indicating the quantum of funds required in compliance of the aforesaid Supreme Court’s judgement irrespective of the category of funds that will be drawn.

All State Governments are also party to this case. Under article 235 of the Constitution of India, the administrative control over the members of subordinate judiciary in the States vests with the concerned High Court and the State Government. Accordingly, the Central Government has requested all the State Governments for taking necessary action to increase the judge strength as per the direction of the Supreme Court and also to fill up the vacant posts of judicial officers on urgent basis.

There is no proposal before the Government to earmark court fee levied by States exclusively for Judicial kitty to augment the strength of Judges.

This Information was given by Minister of Law & Justice, Shri H. R. Bhardwaj in written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on April 28, 2008.

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Mumbai police gifted Pakistan ammunition

Mumbai police on Friday gifted Pakistan ammunition to blame the November 26 terror attacks on Indian groups by first saying they wanted to check if the Indian Mujahideen had links with the 10 gunmen and then backing off.

“The demand was erroneously mentioned in the remand application,” joint commissioner (crime) Rakesh Maria said tonight, possibly realising that Pakistan could seize on this to buttress its claim that Indians were behind the Mumbai attacks.

India holds that all the 10 gunmen were Pakistanis trained by the Lashkar, a group nurtured by the ISI, which plotted the Mumbai attacks. Delhi has been pressing Pakistan to hand over the plotters and the trainers.

But earlier in the day, the Mumbai crime branch told a court it wanted to verify if 20 alleged Indian Mujahideen members, in custody for blasts in Delhi, Ahmedabad, Surat, Bangalore and Varanasi, had ties with the gunmen.

In a remand application filed in court, crime branch officer Ashok Duraphe said a TV channel had aired a phone conversation with gunmen in the Taj hotel during the attacks, in which they were heard asking for the release of Indian Mujahideen members.

“They demanded to set free Indian Mujahideen operatives arrested in connection with the Delhi, Ahmedabad and Surat blasts,” the application said. “Taking into consideration their demand, the possibility of their link to the said recent incidents cannot be ruled out and inquiries to that effect are to be made.”

Six of the 20 accused were produced before the court. The judge extended their judicial custody till January 16.

In the evening, Maria scrambled to control the damage and ended up drawing more attention to the bungle. “We will file a corrigendum in court tomorrow. We will also conduct an internal inquiry,” he said, and stressed there was no link between the Indian Mujahideen and the gunmen.

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