Date:12/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/12/stories/2007111259490900.htm

Andhra Pradesh

News channels, films blamed for crimes against women

Staff Reporter

ANANTAPUR: The All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) on Sunday condemned the killing of Intermediate girl G. Anita by a youth in Chagallu village of Pedda Pappuru mandal in the district on Saturday and demanded stern action against him.

District leaders of the women’s body, D. Dilshad, V. Savithri, Aruna and Ramanjanamma felt that such incidents are recurring in the State as the accused are not being punished.

They also found fault with television news channels for telecasting such incidents repeatedly.

The youth are taking such incidents as an inspiration.

The news channels should stop such irresponsible depiction of the incidents as otherwise they would be doing a great disservice to the society, which is already lacking in moral values, they felt

They also blamed film makers for cashing in on teenage love stories.

The unlimited obscene material available on the internet coupled with immature minds of the teenaged youth are complicating the situation, they felt.

They urged the government to ban telecast of teenage love stories and keep a vigil on the internet centres to bring down the increasing crime on women.

The AIDWA leaders also demanded providing more teeth to laws to deal sternly with the accused in such incidents.

A lecturer pouring acid on a degree student, a girl committing suicide due to harassment of a youth and incidents of Lakshmi Prasanna and Srilaxmi were all examples of fanaticism in the name of love, they said.