Jaipur minor dancer was harassed, says Swati Maliwal

New Delhi: Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal has asked the Rajasthan director general of police to rescue a minor girl who was harassed by male tourists during a cultural performance at Jaipur.

She has asked for lodging of an FIR under relevant sections of Pocso Act, Child Labour Act, Indian Penal Code and other laws.

Ms Maliwal recently wrote to the Rajasthan police chief objecting to alleged inappropriate behaviour of some tourists with a young girl during a cultural performance at a resort in that state. The incident happened on March 10, according to the DCW.  

“I was on a personal visit to Chokhi Dhani in Jaipur. I wish to bring to your notice a very sad incident that occurred. I noticed that during a cultural performance the young girl was being made to dance and was surrounded by men, apparently tourists,” she said in the letter to Rajasthan DGP Manoj Bhatt.

“Those men were showering currency notes on the girl and were touching, pulling and caressing her while dancing with her. I was horrified at the audacity of the male persons in the performing troop who were making the girl dance and encouraging such acts,” she said.The girl told her that she is 13-years-old.

Ms Maliwal also said as per the provisions of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act, anyone who is a witness to such act is duty-bound to report the same to law enforcement agencies.

She urged the DGP to lodge an FIR immediately and said she excepts “immediate and exemplary action” against those responsible.

The DCW chief also marked a copy of the letter to Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje.