Facebook Helps Police To Nab Culprits

screenshot of the Bangalore Traffic Police Facebook page

An image posted on the Bangalore Traffic Police Facebook page led to the detention of two young men on the charge of making lewd gestures at two girls on 13 March 2013.

The image was uploaded by friends of the girls, one a Singapore citizen on a visit and the other a design student from Bangalore. The incident took place on Saturday near the Raheja Arcade in Koramangala 3rd Block, where two youths on a motorbike made rude and abusive gestures at the two girls — both in their 20s — who were crossing the road. The girls’ friend, Akshay Kingar, immediately clicked a picture of the two riders along with the licence plate of their bike.

Outraged citizen:-

Within hours of the image being posted on the Facebook page, it drew outraged comments from citizens who supported the girls and their quick-thinking friend. The post gathered 10,000 likes and about 3,000 shares in just 24 hours. A Facebook group, The Bangalore Doers, was created as a platform to support and encourage victims of such incidents and also to help put a stop to them.

On 13 march 2013, there was a response from the Bangalore Traffic Police saying they had the two young men in their custody.

The Singapore national said: “We were attending an event in Koramanagala and crossing the road when the boys, who had stopped at a traffic signal, leered and made kissing noises at us and sped away.” But not before giving them the finger. “The only thing we managed to do was to take a picture of them before they escaped,” she said.

She said she was surprised that such passes were made in broad daylight in upmarket Koramangala. “At that point of time, I felt scared and was very glad to have my friends with me. I don’t think any kind of harassment (physical, verbal or even through gestures) must be tolerated. Allowing such small things to continue may lead to bigger problems.” Encouraged by the response on Facebook, Mr. Kingar lodged a complaint with the Koramangala police on Monday. He admitted he did not expect the kind of response the image evoked.

“It was overwhelming with so many citizens backing us. It is not that I want these boys to be beaten up but I would want them to apologise to my friends. I would look at it as an opportunity to bring about social change rather than view it as a crime.”

Commerce students:-

The Koramangala police said they detained both the youths on Wednesday for several hours for questioning. “We have called the complainant as well. Both the boys are B.Com students of private colleges here and aged 21 and 22. They were let off later.”

They have been charged for ‘eve-teasing’ under the Karnataka Police Act.

Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill approved by Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha on 25 February 2013 approved the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill. The bill seeks protection for women in all type of organised, unorganized as well as Private Sectors, including the sexual harassment of domestic help as well as agricultural workers.

The bill had made it mandatory for every organization with 10 or more employees to form an internal complaint committee to deal with the complaints of sexual offences. The committees should be disposed of within 90 days and organizations that fails to follow the guidelines, would be penalized with 50000 rupees. Organisations that repeatedly violate the provisions of the bill would be penalized to a greater level and the offence may lead to the cancellation of the licenses or registration of the business conduct.

Under its list of offences, the bill covers sexual remarks, sexual favour demands, any act of unwelcome touch and physical advance and showing pornography.

The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament in September 2012.

Rape, molestation rampant

Several cases of rape and molestation were reported from different parts of Delhi.

In the first incident, a minor girl was allegedly raped by her landlord at Kotla Mubarakpur in South Delhi on Monday (25th Feb 2013). It is learnt that the incident was reported to the police after she told her parents about the assault.

According to sources, Sumit, the accused raped the 11-year-old victim at her residence when her parents had gone to a nearby market. The accused also allegedly threatened the girl with dire consequences if she informed anyone about it.

The girl, however, told her parents once they reached home. They then took her to the police station and lodged a complaint against Sumit. A case under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code was registered and Sumit was subsequently arrested.

On Monday a 26-year-old junior engineer of Delhi Jal Board was arrested. Faraz was arrested at Jamia Nagar for allegedly raping a 22-year-old girl over the past one year on the pretext of marriage.

In another case in North-East Delhi, a Class VIII student was allegedly molested as she resisted an attempt to kidnap her. The police have apprehended a juvenile in connection with the case.

The incident occurred on Monday evening when the 15-year-old victim was on her way home from her coaching classes. She was waylaid by a person in a car and told her that he wanted to be friends with her, a proposal turned down by the girl.

At this, he dragged the girl inside his car and started driving it. The girl, however, managed to jump off the moving car near the Shahdara metro station. Following this, she went back home and narrated the incident to her parents who lodged a complaint at Shahdara police station.

A case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered.