Delhi Lt. Governor cuts short US visit, meet womens' groups

New Delhi, Dec 24  Delhi's Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna cut short his US vacation and returned to the national capital following uproar over a gangrape and met womens' groups agitated over the incident here Monday.

Khanna, who arrived Sunday night, is to also meet with top police officers to take "tough decisions", including the possible suspension of certain officers responsible for security, an aide told IANS, emphasizing that khanna had come back on his own and had not been summoned.

"Khanna returned to the city last night, on his own.. He was not called by the home ministry. As soon as he arrived, he held meetings with womens' groups and assured them of all necessary steps on womens' safety," Ranjan Mukherjee, Officer on Special Duty (OSD), told IANS.

Asked by IANS again if Khanna had come back after being directed by the home ministry, Mukherjee reiterated: "He has come back on his own."

Khanna held meetings with a number of womens' groups Monday morning and assured them all necessary steps would be taken to ensure safety.

The women had gone to meet him to voice concern over the Dec 16 brutal gangrape of a 23-year-old woman. The national capital has been reporting rising incidences of rape and has earned the unflattering title of "rape capital". Over 600 rape cases were reported this year, police data says.

"A group of us womens' rights groups met the Lt. Governor to ask for accountability, better policing of Delhi. He assured us that all necessary steps would be taken to instil confidence among women regarding safety," said Kirti Singh, legal convener of the All India Democratic Women Association (AIDWA).

Khanna is to also meet Delhi Police Commissioner Neeraj Kumar.

According to Mukherjee, the Lt Governor was giving "necessary instructions" via phone while he was away in the US. He was to return Jan 2, but he cut short his trip, Mukherjee said.

The Delhi Police functions under the union home ministry and the police commissioner reports to the Lt Governor as he is the administrative head of the force.