Bhopal cops take to parading ‘stalkers’, activists cry foul

The Bhopal police is facing criticism over its crackdown on youngsters pegged as stalkers, human rights activists said on Saturday.

Cops have taken to parading these “stalkers/roadside romeos” in public while people , especially women, rain blows on them. The state human rights commission has said it will take cognisance of such incidents.

The latest parade came on Friday when the police arrested three people in connection with the molestation of a 12-year-old girl. Police officials maintain that such public shaming will not only act as a deterrent, but also inspires confidence about the police among people.

The crackdown began after two successive incidents in which young girls committed suicide after being stalked.

The first incident took place in Bhopal on March 11, when a student of Geetanjali College, committed suicide after she was stalked and sexually harassed by a local youngster. The second incident took place a couple of days later in Kamthi village where a 21-year old girl committed suicide after being stalked by a local lad. the victim had even approached the police with a complaint, but they reportedly did not file it or take any action.

Both cases led to massive public protest in Bhopal. Since the assembly was in session at the time, home minister Bhupendra Singh announced that if incidents of sexual harassment did not come down, strict action would be taken against officials.

The police then went into overdrive to crackdown against such cases.

However, human rights activist Mohsin Ali Khan is not impressed, “We are disturbed with increase in number of incidents of sexual harassment and rape. These people need to be punished hard. But, there is a law for that. Police are declaring them as culprits before the court and stamping them as stalkers... This is a violation of human rights.”

Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission chairman Manohar Mamtani said, “Public parade is illegal and police shouldn’t be involved in such activities... We will take cognizance in this matter.”

Bhopal IGP Jaydeep Prasad said, “We are not holding any parade but we are taking them to the court by foot marching and shaming them publicly...”

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