Date:03/03/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/03/03/stories/2009030358820300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Provide safety to women’

Staff Reporter

Fearless Karnataka stages protest in front of Police Commissioner’s office

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Raising their voice: Members of Karnataka Women’s Forum protesting against atrocities on women in Bangalore on Monday.

BANGALORE: In the light of the three reported — and other unreported — attacks on women, Fearless Karnataka, a group that has come to be in an attempt to combat the ongoing and unprovoked violence, staged a protest in front of Commissioner of Police Shankar Bidari’s office and submitted a memorandum demanding immediate action against the culprits.

They demanded that since two of the incidents had been reported from around Mount Carmel College, adequate safety be provided for women in the area.

The memorandum stressed that the police should register a First Information Report (FIR) if the women were coming forth with complaints.

Among the representatives of Fearless Karnataka, who went to meet the Commissioner, were two of the victims themselves — Sanjana and another, who were both attacked near High Grounds.

According to Aarti Mundkur of the Alternative Law Forum, and Ms. Sanjana, the journalist who was attacked on Saturday night, Mr. Bidari said that there was no law and order problem in the city.

“He believes that the streets of Bangalore are safe and it is a cultured city where men respect women,” said Ms. Sanjana quoting him after the meeting.

Speaking to presspersons in his office, Mr. Bidari said that as he was coming from BTM Layout to his office on Infantry Road and he did not “see a single girl wearing a sari” and that “Western attires were becoming part of life.”

He also said that victims needed to file a police complaint immediately and note the registration numbers of the vehicles so police investigation would be more effective.

“If the police do not register the complaint, then it can be lodged at my office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” the Commissioner said.

From students to writers and journalists, the protest also brought groups such as the Karnataka Women’s Forum and the Samanatha Mahila Jagriti, under the banner of Fearless Karnataka. Farnaz Wahmil, from the Karnataka Women’s Forum said that she was scared walking alone on the road. “People are taking advantage of the situation and getting away with it,” said Ms. Wahmil, whose opinion was echoed by others from the forum.