Minor spends night at Metro stn, cops refuse to take custody as no female staff present

THE 15YEAROLD GIRL WAS UNDER THE CARE OF A FEMALE CISF STAFF. CWC HAS SENT HER TO A SHELTER HOME

NEWDELHI: A 15-year-old girl, who got separated with her friend while travelling in the Delhi Metro, had to spend a night at a metro station as the Delhi Police could not take her into custody because there was no woman constable present.

A woman constable of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) turned saviour by feeding her dinner and keeping the girl under her watch on September 25 night at Pitampura Metro station. The incident took place when the train services had terminated.

“After train services terminate, we sweep the stations . During the exercise, soon after midnight, the staff at Pitampura Metro station saw a girl sitting alone at platform number 2. She was brought to the control room where she said that she was waiting for her male friend. We immediately called the police,” said a CISF officer, whose name can’t be disclosed as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

But the Delhi Police reportedly refused to take her into custody as they did not have any woman officer at that time. According to rules, the presence of female staff is mandatory while taking a girl into custody.

“The Delhi Police requested us to keep the girl with a female constable of the CISF. We agreed and our constable was asked to sit in front of CCTV camera near the ladies frisking booth so that their movement can be monitored. In the morning, the girl was handed over to the police,” CISF spokesperson Hemendra Singh said.

DCP (Metro) Pankaj Singh confirmed the incident and said that on that particular night, a female staff was not present at Rithala police station. Pitampura Metro station falls under its jurisdiction. Singh said police took her into custody the following morning and produced her before the Child Welfare Committee. The CWC sent her to a children’s home till the next date of hearing.

“We usually hand over the missing child to the family and if we are unable to find the family, we drop the child to the nearest shelter home,” said a Delhi Police officer.

With 28 lakh passengers travelling every day and 20% of them usually first timers, every day the CISF receives at least two cases of people getting separated from their relatives. Such cases are taken on priority basis as delay may affect the probe.

An official said that most of them get separated due to automatic doors and crowded Metro stations. “In 2016, we reunited 106 children with their parents, while this year till June, 60 children have been reunited. Apart from this, over 100 adults were also reunited,” the CISF official said.