Bhopal: If you are a woman resident of the city, there is bad news for you. Bhopal has the dubious distinction of recording the highest number of eve-teasing and molestation cases among all the districts in the state and the numbers are rising. The Dial-100 Quick Response Vehicles, on an average, receive around 1,500 complaints of eve-teasing every day from across Madhya Pradesh. Add to it the complaints made to Nirbhaya, woman and other police stations and figure may easily touch 3,000 mark. Since its inception in 2015, the number of eve-teasing complaints received through Dial-100 has tripled and 10 percent of them are from the city alone.
After Bhopal, Indore and Jabalpur rank second and third respectively in recording highest number of eve teasing cases. Additional Director General (crimes against women) Aruna Mohan Rao said, “Nirbhaya squads are deployed in and around the city colleges and schools where girls study. Dial 100 is also available and 80 scooters driven by women cops keep a check on eve-teasers. We have four IGs and DIGs for crime against women who visit schools and colleges to make students aware.”
On being questioned about increase in eve-teasing cases during Navaratri, she said patrolling has been intensified. She also said more platforms are available for women to complain about eve-teasers. “This is the reason why numbers of registered eve teasing cases may have gone up. We encourage women to speak against eve teasing and molestation and to complain against the offenders without any fear,” she added.
SP, Dial 100, Amit Saxena told Free Press, “Girls are coming forward against eve-teasers. This indicates that women have faith in police.” He also said 1,000 First Response Vehicles (FRVs) are patrolling the roads in the state. As soon as a phone call is received, the nearest FRV reaches the spot as soon possible.
One of the police officials of the Nirbhaya team said that as many as 15 incidents of eve-teasing come to light in the city every day. Most of the time, an FIR is not registered and the police let off the culprit after giving him a strict warning. However, repeat offenders are taken into custody and strict action is taken against them. About 155 cases of eve teasing and molestation were registered at local women’s police station in 2016.
Rashmi Jain, student of a local college, said women face eve-teasing on roads. “We try to ignore such incidents. Sometimes, we see boys standing in front of our hostels, colleges and tuition centres,” she said. Hostel warden of a girl’s college, who didn’t wish to be named, said, “We have imposed strict rules regarding the timings of the hostels. We have installed CCTV cameras around hostel premises. If we spot anybody, roaming unnecessarily here, we immediately inform the police.”
Another local college student Yashika said eve-teasing increases during Navaratri. Anti-social elements can be seen loitering around the pandals and Garba venues. “As soon as they see a women or a girl they follow her. That’s why we prefer going out to play Garba with our family and friends as we feel safe with them,” she remarked.
