Himachal women more prone to phone-stalking

AT 151%, HIMACHAL PRADESH HAS THIRD HIGHEST TELEDENSITY AFTER DELHI (254%) AND MUMBAI (181%)

SHIMLA: The Chandigarh stalking case has put the spotlight on the increasing incidence of harassment of women by phone in Himachal Pradesh.

Women in Himachal Pradesh are increasingly at the receiving end of lewd calls. At 151%, Himachal Pradesh has the third highest tele-density after Delhi (254%) and Mumbai (181%). Locals attribute it to the telecom revolu- tion in Himachal initiated by former Union telecom minister Sukh Ram. “The number of telephone exchanges increased tremendously during his tenure. Later the BS N Land other com pa- nies expanded their networks in rural areas,” general manager, BSNL, MC Singh told HT.

There are nearly 1.3 lakh landline connections in Himachal against 80 lakh mobile phone subscribers.

Ironically, Mandi, the home town of Sukh Ram, recorded the maximum number of such cases (45) in the last five years while S him la reported 42 of the total 256 cases registered in the state

In 2011, the police introduced a Short Message Service wherein women, who were reluctant to visit police stations, could register their complaints on their mobiles. In the last five years, more than 15,761 mobile phone subscribers have filed a slew of complaints through SM Sat various police stations“We have already taken some steps and more are being taken. More police helplines are being set up in the state,” Director General of Police Somesh Goyal told HT.

The police registered FIRs against 326 persons for harassing women on telephones in last five years

Five years ago, the Shimla police had constituted anti-Romeo squads to record the activities of youths harassing women. But with time, the drive was abandoned and no reasons were given for it. Calling for more effective steps, Sheetal Sharma, an activist said: “Stalkers are known to break laws and terrorise victims.”

Women can report the matter on 9459100100.