Dikshit seeks PM's intervention for safe Delhi

Unhappy over functioning of the police in Delhi, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has sought Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's intervention in ensuring better security for women.

She has also said that situation remained unchanged even after the massive public outcry in wake of brutal gang-rape incident in the city.

In a letter to Singh, written Tuesday, Dikshit said no visible improvement has been witnessed in overall policing in Delhi in last two months, though the police had assured enhanced security for women following the protest after the December 16 gangrape and assault of a 23-year-old girl, sources said. The victim had died in a Singapore hospital on December 29.

The chief minister requested the Prime Minister to look into the issue and ensure better security infrastructure in the city.

The sources said Dikshit had written a similar letter to Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for taking effective steps in improving the law and order situation here.

She has referred to an incident of brutal assault of a college girl in Lajpat Nagar earlier this month in which iron rod was shoved into her throat by her attacker after he failed in his rape attempt, and said "nothing has changed even after the widespread public anger against the police."

Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar had yesterday met the Delhi Chief Minister and apprised her about the steps being taken by the force to improve safety of women.

Kumar had informed her about various measures taken by Delhi Police in instilling confidence among the women in the force.

Dikshit had stressed the need for more efforts by the police to check crime against women and improve the overall law and order situation in the city. She had also made a reference to the issue of training of police personnel.

Dikshit had been critical of functioning of the police force and demanded the resignation of Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar in the wake of the gang-rape incident.