Law and order deteriorating in Delhi, says Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal
The Chief Minister also announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the girl's family
New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of a girl who was stabbed to death in Anand Parbat locality and ordered a magisterial probe into the case while slamming Delhi Police for the "deteriorating" law and order situation.
The Chief Minister, accompanied by his deputy Manish Sisodia, visited the girl's family and assured them of all possible help. Nineteen-year-old Meenakshi was brutally stabbed to death on Thursday by a man and his brother.
"The law and order situation is deteriorating in Delhi every day. Delhi Police comes under the Prime Minister. Either he should do something or Delhi Police should be handed over to the Delhi government," Kejriwal told reporters.
Making a strong pitch for handing over of Delhi Police to the city government, the Chief Minister said, "If the police is not answerable to Delhi government then how will they be held accountable? Right now, Delhi police is a law unto itself."
Earlier Delhi Home Minister Satyender Jain wrote a letter to Delhi Police Commissioner B S Bassi, seeking his explanation on why no FIR was registered against the accused despite repeated complaints from the victim.
Kejriwal said considering the deteriorating law and order situation in the capital, "the Prime Minister should start giving 2-3 hours each week to review the situation."
"We have ordered a magisterial enquiry into the case. Delhi home minister has asked a report from Delhi Police commissioner in 48 hours," Kejriwal said.
The Chief Minister also announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the girl's family. He said that he would summon the Delhi Police commissioner on Monday to discuss this case and the prevailing law and order situation.
Delhi Home Minister Jain said Delhi Police's inaction in providing security to Meenakshi led to her murder. She died after being stabbed 35 times by one Jai Prakash and his brother who were allegedly stalking her for a long time.
The AAP also blamed the police for the deteriorating law and order situation in the city.
"In the past few weeks, several incidents of crime against women have been reported. Most of them being heinous in nature and most of it against women.
"The news of a teenage girl stabbed to death by her molesters while police refused to lodge a complaint by the parents is a shocking incident which has brought to light the inefficiency and indifference of the Delhi Police towards protecting people," AAP's Delhi convener Dilip Pandey said.
In his letter, Jain also asked the police as to what changes have taken place in the capital in improving law and order situation since the December 16 gang rape case in 2012.
"The family of the deceased girl (Meenakshi) had filed numerous complaints against the accused Jai Prakash since 2013 with the local police alleging that he used to stalk the girl and traumatise her but no FIR was registered by the police," Jain claimed.
Newly-appointed DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal also visited Meenakshi's family.