Fearless Karnataka pledges to ensure women safety

Over the past couple of days, several women in Bengaluru have been complaining of being assaulted by unknown persons. The women claim that the number of cases involving assault on women has gone up in the city.

These women have now collectively formed an organisation known as Fearless Karnataka to fight assault against women. As a first step, they have submitted a memorandum to the city commissioner of police urging him to step up security for women in Bengaluru.

Taking note of the recent spate of attacks, a fact finding team comprising members of Vimochana, a non-government organisation, the Alternate Law Firm and the People's Union of Civil Liberties set up a fact finding team.

The team found that at least 50 attacks were reported on women in the past 18 months and observed that there was a complete breakdown of the constitutional machinery.

The members of the Fearless Karnataka have come out with a plan to ensure that the women are safe in the state.

On March 7, these women plan to march up to the office of the state police chief in order to bring to his notice the issue of safety of women.

The following day the campaigners will march the streets in the night and occupy public spaces such as bus stands, shopping malls and theatres. The campaign will be called as Take Back our Night and posters will be put up to urge the public to participate and also take action.

In the memorandum submitted to the police commissioner on Monday, the women spoke about the numerous attacks. Worse, was that such attacks took place in broad daylight and that too in full public glare, they said.

The Bengaluru police however said that it is not clear whether it is a case of moral policing or just eve-teasing. "We will take all steps to ensure the safety of women," the police said.

Some of the recent complaints:

A woman attacked at Indranagar between 1 and 1.30 pm. Goons on a motorcycle chased her and shouted obscenities before punching her.

A woman attacked in Vasanthnagar by a gang of men. She too was hit and vulgar language used against her.

An incident in Koramangala, where four men tried to pull off the clothes of a woman. They screamed saying that she was a Pink chaddi campaigner before fleeing from the scene.