73 domestic violence cases reported in September

The Bharosa Centre is where women approach the police for help when they are harassed. The Cyberabad Bharosa Centre, however, had one unusual complainant last month, when a techie approached the Bharosa Centre for help to get back his wife who left him due to his addiction to alcohol.

Apart from this not so common request, domestic violence cases formed a major percentage of cases handled by the Bharosa Centre in September. Of the 73 cases dealt with, 72 pertained to domestic violence while there was one case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The lone male petitioner, according to officials, was a software engineer, whose wife had left him due to his addiction to alcohol. He approached the Bharosa Centre for help through the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC). “He wanted reconciliation with his wife, but she refused to attend the counselling session at Bharosa saying she would discuss the issue with her family members and seek a solution,” officials said, adding, the case was put on hold.

As for the rest of the complaints, Cyberabad Women and Children Safety Wing DCP C Anasuya said the complaints were received from victims through various means of communication including WhatsApp, email, local police stations, direct walk-in, through the women helpline apart from Margadarshak and Sanghamitra



volunteers. All complaints were acted upon and disposed of on merits, she said.

According to the officials, of the 73 cases, 35 ended in re-uniting the couple, 13 were referred to the local police station and First Information Reports (FIR) booked, telephonic counselling was given in 12 cases and legal aid was provided in 10 cases while three cases were kept on hold.

“Of all the complaints we received in September, efforts of the staff and counsellors helped in re-uniting 35 couples with the help of professional counselling and guidance,” Anasuya said.

Each case will be studied by the counsellor and individual counselling will be given and then a combined counselling session with the spouse is held. Depending on the case, if more counselling sessions are needed, more combined counselling sessions will be taken for reunion purpose. Apart from this, a de-addiction workshop was conducted at the centre for families affected by alcoholism, where women were being harassed by their alcoholic husbands.