Udupi: Former member of the National Commission for Women (NCW) Shyamala Kunder has said that a team of officials, led by NCW representative for South India Khushbu Sundar, will visit Udupi to investigate the incident of a video of a paramedical college student being filmed when she visited the restroom.

Addressing a press conference in town on Wednesday, Kunder said that the Commission had taken cognizance of the matter. “As a woman, I am concerned about what happens to women and have brought the incident to the notice of the Commission. I have also requested the Commission to handle the matter ensuring that the future of the girl students is not affected. Chairperson of the NCW Rekha Sharma has tweeted that the Commission will deal with the matter,” said the former member.

“The investigation by the NCW will reveal if the three accused students had truly deleted the video filmed, as they have stated, or if they had shared it before doing so. None of the guilty parties will be given protection by the Commission. Women should remember, while indulging in such activities, that the victim is also a woman, like them. Such humanitarian values should be imbibed by young ladies,” said Kunder.

She further said that, when dealing with such incidents, police should voluntarily register cases and start investigation as a means of ensuring safety to women, instead of waiting for a complaint to be filed by the victim or the relatives. The victim has stated that she will not file a complaint in the matter, she pointed out. “It is also unacceptable that the state government is silent on the incident. The government as well as the minister of the concerned department should address the matter of women’s safety,” she urged.

“No woman should be forced to fight such a delicate situation on political lines. It is also inappropriate for a political party to politicize a woman’s suffering. I am handling the matter for neither political nor religious benefits. I only wish to ensure the victim gets justice.

People too should handle the matter with care and concern, ensuring the name of the victim is not mentioned at any point. They should also be patient enough for the investigation to reveal facts before sharing matter on social media or any public platform,” Kunder stated.

‘Sakhi’ One Stop Centre District Committee member Thara Umesh Acharya, Kollur Temple Board member Sandhya Ramesh and advocate Sahana Kunder Sooda were present at the press conference.

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New Delhi (PTI): Responding to a petitioner in the stray dogs case who objected to some rules framed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) saying "inhuman" treatment was being meted out to them, the Supreme Court on Thursday said a video will be played in the next hearing, "asking you what is humanity".

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is appearing in the stray dogs case, told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a three-judge special bench which was scheduled to assemble on Thursday to hear the matter was cancelled.

"It will come on January 7," Justice Nath said.

Sibal said, "The problem is that the MCD, in the meantime, has framed some rules which are completely contrary.color:red;"

He urged the bench to hear the matter on Friday, saying authorities don't even have dog shelters. "It is very very inhuman what is being done," Sibal said.

Justice Mehta, in an apparent reference to the stray dog menace, said "On the next date, we will play a video for your benefit and we will ask you what is humanity," .

Sibal responded that they will also play a video to show what was happening.

"The problem is your lordships has passed an order and we respect that. But the point is, there are statutory rules," he said.

When the bench said it would consider the matter on January 7, Sibal said the authorities will implement the rules in December itself.

"They will be implementing it and they will be removing the dogs. They don't have shelters," he said.

Justice Nath said, "It is alright Mr Sibal. Let them do it, we will consider."

The bench said it would hear the matter on January 7.

On November 7, taking note of the "alarming rise" in dog bite incidents within institutional areas like educational institutions, hospitals and railway stations, the apex court directed the forthwith relocation of stray canines to designated shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination.

A three-judge special bench had also said the stray dogs so picked up shall not be released back in the place they were picked up from.

The bench had directed the authorities to ensure the removal of all cattle and other stray animals from state highways, national highways and expressways.

It had said recurrence of dog bite incidents within institutional areas, including sports complexes, reflected not only administrative apathy but also a "systemic failure" to secure these premises from preventable hazards.

The top court had passed a slew of directions in the suo motu case over the stray dog menace.

It is hearing a suo motu case, initiated on July 28 over a media report on stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.