DAYS AFTER the rape of a 26-year-old woman inside an MSRTC bus in Pune, the top brass of the Mumbai police has instructed police stations across the city to ensure buses that are not in use and are illegally parked at one spot for long are taken care of. Police have been asked to increase patrolling at spots where long distance buses are parked. There has also been emphasis to increase patrolling at night. A senior inspector from a police station in the eastern suburbs said they wrote to the concerned authorities about to clear some buses that were parked near depots in the eastern suburbs of the city for several months so that they are not misused. The officer said that they have also deployed some officials at the bus depots at night to ensure no untoward incident takes place. The officer said that they have received a series of instructions, including making a list of accused arrested in crimes against women over the past few years and who are currently out on bail. "We have been told to contact such accused and if need be, get them to sign bonds of good behaviour and take necessary action. We are also acting against drug users who could cause nuisance,” the officer said. Police have also been told to act seriously on written complaints they may have received from women about harassment in the past. A senior officer said while police patrolling at night is an ongoing exercise, instructions have been passed to the rank and file to take the exercise seriously. They have been told to question those found loitering around alone at night.
