Invoke Nirbhaya Act to check crime against women: Chandrababu Naidu

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has asked the District Collectors to "invoke" the stringent 'Nirbhaya Act' against the anti-social elements who indulge in violence against women.

"The law and order mechanism should function effectively and also take preventive measures to check the crime, particularly crime against women. Invoke 'Nirbhaya Act' against anti-social elements, particularly against those who indulge in sexual violence on women," Naidu said after inaugurating a two-day conference of Collectors here.

He expressed concern over the recent incidents of spurious liquor trade and 'call money racket' in Vijayawada.

The CM said that the 'call money operators' who indulged in violence against women borrowers should be punished under the 'Nirbhaya Act'.

The Vijayawada Police had on Saturday booked a case against some people of a company in connection with lending loans to women and allegedly forcing them to indulge into immoral activities when they could not repay the amount. So far nine 'money call operators' have been arrested in this connection.

Naidu also said that the 'call money' racket operators deserve punishment, irrespective of political affiliations.

The state CPI unit on Sunday demanded that the government should check activities of 'call money' operators in the city and do justice with victims of the racket that was busted on Saturday.

The YSRCP on Sunday alleged that some TDP leaders are involved in the case.

"There are reports which point out that the perpetrators of the crime have links with TDP leaders and are supporters of the ruling party and there are efforts to cover up the issue, but we demand that the culprits should be brought to book,"

YSRCP spokesperson K Parthasarathi told reporters here.

The Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, passed in 2013, provides for amendment of Indian Penal Code, Indian Evidence Act, and Code of Criminal Procedure-1973, on laws related to sexual offences. It was originally an Ordinance promulgated by President Pranab Mukherjee in April 2013, following protests in connection with the 2012 Delhi gang rape case.