Exercising the Right of Private Defense or Self-Defense is one of the exceptions that the law recognizes, by virtue of which a person commits no offence, in some circumstances, even if he takes the life of another.
It is the primary duty of the state to protect the life and property of its subjects. But no law, however vigilant, can control each and every troublemaker in the country. Therefore, the law confers the right of private or self defense on people. Nothing is an offence that is done in private defense. (Section 96 of IPC)
Is police really a help?
Joint police commissioner (crime) of Mumbai, Meera Borwanker, urges women to interact with the police as much as possible. “Crimes against women have always existed. It’s just that women have become bolder and more assertive now. They come out and complain, which is a good thing,” she says.
But isn’t the faith in the police has shaken up due to some of the heinous crimes against the women by the police itself? Remember the Marine Drive rape case, in which a constable raped a minor girl in broad daylight? There are many such examples because of which a lot of women are scared to even visit and lodge an FIR.
“My counter question to that is don’t you think that we, the staff, feel as bad or even worse when such shameful incidents occur? Those guys are dismissed immediately and are punished too. Please don’t malign the image of the entire police force because of some bad guys,” argues Borwanker. “I request women to freely walk into any police station and see how things work without any apprehension,” she adds. Talking about women’s self-defense programs, she says, “We have launched several self defense training programmes in the form of gender sensitization among the citizens. While the staff is already trained in various techniques like judo, karate, stress management, etc.”
“The police is also
aiming at various women’s organizations, colleges and schools to
impart basic training in self-defense,” she confirms.