Police made media a party to Bengaluru molestation cases

Ever since the intervening night of 31 December-1 January, Bengaluru has not been the same. Everyone in the city has a strong opinion on the incidents of New Year’s Eve, where many revellers molested several women. The average Bangalorean feels that the reputation of their city has been tarnished. “We are as safe or unsafe as any other city like Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata,” said Revathy Ashok, convenor of BPAC, a citizens’ forum.

The incident, coming just days before the international congregation of NRIs at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, came to be discussed there as well.

The Bengaluru city Police, which came under immense pressure for not doing anything initially, opted to take media reports as the basis of filing FIRs. Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, Praveen Sood, Commissioner, Bengaluru City Police said, “Some of these media reports had detailed narration. The victims found time to visit television studios but not approach us. We took these media reports and issued notices.” The police on 4 January made the media houses a party to the cases, which has shocked many in the fraternity. R Sridhara, president of the Press Club of Bengaluru told this newspaper, “Since these notices are to individual media houses we shall not intervene in the matter. But this is a trend which should not be repeated often as it will in- timidate the journalists from reporting freely.”

The New Year’s Eve molestation incidents have made many insecure. Raina, a designer said, “I have been in Bengaluru for over a decade but now there is this fear in my mind. My parents in UP want me to return to Lucknow. But I know the city has a far better track record in law and order.”

The incident has also brought to the fore the growing rift between the locals and the “outsiders”. Pro Kannada organisations have started exploiting the issue to strengthen their reach and base in the city. Several proKannada activists blamed the “North-Indians” and “Northeasterners” for the occurrence of such incidents.

A damage control exercise has also started. The presence of a CCTV footage at Kammanahalli helped the city police crack a groping case. The police now plans to install over 500 CCTV cameras in the city. But even former policemen believe that the efforts may not be sufficient. “There is the need to instill confidence among women,” says C. Dinakar, ex DGP of the state. “The general attitude of the youth in a city like Bengaluru is that they can get away… Policing at the police station level has to become more stringent with better record maintenance of the local youth,” he adds.

While the dust is yet to settle, a woman’s advocacy group has asked women to “Dress as You Please” and come to MG Road on Tuesday.