Bhopal gangrape fallout: MP CM Shivraj Singh announces closure of liquor shops near schools, religious places

Drawing flak from all the quarters over the alleged gangrape of a 19-year-old woman, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday announced the closure of liquor shops located near girls’ hostels, religious places and schools across the state.

The horrific incident took place on October 31 when a woman was allegedly abducted and raped by four men. The victim was returning home after attending a coaching class.

The police have already arrested the accused. After witnessing massive protest, Chouhan had promised to hold weekly meeting on the issue of women safety.

The first such meeting was convened on Monday.

“The chief minister has directed (officials) to prepare a list of liquor shops located near girls’ hostels, religious places and schools and to start the process to shut them down,” a Public Relations department official said.

He said there’s no time frame for shutting down the liquor outlets.

The chief minister also directed officials to close all ‘ahatas’ immediately. Ahatas are areas next to liquor stores where customers consume alcohol.

Chouhan also issued directions to install CCTV cameras at entry gates of women’s hostels in the state and asked officials to shut down liquor shops in sensitive places.

The Additional Chief Secretary (Home) will monitor the implementation of the decisions taken at the meeting.

The government will create awareness about the “ills of porn websites through special camps in schools. The School Education department would also make students aware about ‘good touch and bad touch’ through movies,” the official added.

Also, the chief minister directed officials to ensure GPS systems and CCTV cameras are installed in school and public and college buses.

“The Transport department has been told to ensure a woman

conductor is present in every school bus and to conduct character verification of drivers,” according to the official.

The police would organise a campaign in schools and colleges to create awareness regarding crime against women.

During the campaign, more than 2.5 lakh girls would be contacted over the next two weeks, the official said.

Police personnel will also be sensitised over the next three months and will be told to immediately register a case if a crime against a woman is reported.

The direction came in the wake of the gang rape survivor, daughter of a police couple, alleging that police officials delayed registration of an FIR in the case.