Click to play videoMumbai: As Mumbaikars bade adieu to 2006, they also said hello to a city getting notoriously unsafe for women.
On the New Year’s eve, in the final minutes of the year gone by, a young woman was almost stripped and molested in full public view by an unruly mob of nearly 70 party animals in full public view at the Gateway of India.
The woman’s friend, a young man, was also manhandled, and it took the couple a desperate and a nightmarish 10 minutes before they could get out of what could have easily taken a turn for the worse.
The rest of the city and the country could have quite easily missed out on the grave bit of news save for the fact that it was caught on camera by a photographer with city daily Mid-Day.
Shadab Khan, the photographer, was covering the New Year event from a temporary police watchtower.
The photographs he took, he says, have shaken his faith in the city he has lived in all his life.
Recalling the horrifying incident Shadab said, “At around 11:30-11:45 when I looked back to the crowd, I saw some people were trying to molest a lady. Her friend was also there who was trying to stop them. Both were trying to run away from that mob. There were more than 600 people around the Gateway of India but there were around 50 to 60 people who were there around her and were not allowing the couple to move out from the crowd.”
When asked about the police who were present at the watchtower, Shadab said, “I was at the police watchtower and there were to constables along with me. I am shocked that how come the policemen, who were on the duty, didn’t saw that incident. Later on I told them that this happening but they didn’t respond.”
So is Mumbai still the safest city for women, as it was famously known? That was the question that came up for discussion on CNN-IBN's Face the Nation with Anuradha SenGupta.
On the panel of experts were Shadab Khan, Photographer, Mid-Day, Malvika Sanghvi, Columnist and Lifestyle & Travel Editor, DNA, Y P Singh, Former IPS Officer and Shaina NC, Fashion Designer, and Politician, Secretary BJP Mumbai.
While Mumbaikars are shocked by the images of a woman being publicly molested at the Gateway of India on New Year's Eve, the police can do little. That's because no one has pressed charges.
The premise that Mumbai is losing it’s claim to being the safest city for women in India is emphasized by a series of distressing crimes against women in the past couple of years.
Past incidents |
|
 More was convicted and sentenced to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment. |
| On August 13, 2005, a young woman from Manipur was stabbed to death in front of the Gateway of India, in broad daylight. Her friend was also assaulted |
| The assailant Junaid Patel's mental instability was cited as the reason for the reckless murder. |
| A South African model of Indian origin was taken from suburban hotel Bawa International to another hotel by two men on December 27 It was a termed a case of DATE - RAPE', since the victim knew the assailants who drugged her before the assault |
| On August 13, 2002, a mentally challenged minor girl was raped on a second-class compartment of the last Borivli bound train. The assailant was a drunk youth. Five Mumbaikers, including a journalist, were silent spectators. |
Is the police being blamed unfairly?
Do you feel that we are blaming the police unfairly because those watchtowers where the photographs were taken, this surely the police can see this to isn’t it?
Reacting to the question former IPS Officer Y P Singh said, “What is more shocking is the statement of the police commissioner. He says he has not got any complaint and with reference to molestation it is an established tradition in police that police acts without complaint because they have got power to do so. When this is seen in conjunction with the fact that the constables are there who are spectators to something which is happening openly and despite they having the power to do so they didn’t do anything, I think the police has much to blame for itself and there is no excuse.”
“Under the law the police commissioner and the Mumbai police is obliged to register the FIR itself at once the photograph is there they should invoke investigation and find out the culprits because the police has got the power to lodge the FIR on there own. They wont require a complainant. It’s a criminal case after all,” Singh added.
Reacting to Singh’s response on the negligence of police in the case and talking about its impact on Mumbai’s image, fashion designer, and politician, Secretary BJP Mumbai Shaina NC said that Mumbaikars should take fast action and should be more proactive in these cases.
Shaina said, “I think it has tremendous impact on the city because we go on talking about how safe it is. This is a clear-cut example and many others in the past as well. I do blame the police and I do blame the state government also but the anger and shock is also at the people around. We take a lot of pride in talking about Mumbaikars belonging to a certain type and having a particular spirit. The point is when it comes to an incident like this where would the people around. I think they needed to act fast and give it back to the hooligans.”
In Mumbai there are 811 women for every 1000 men. Lately, given the rise in the number of crimes against women.
How secure does the average Mumbaikar feels in the city?
DNA’s Columnist and Lifestyle & Travel Editor, Malvika Sanghvi said that she is not at all surprised that the couple didn’t come forward with a complaint against the incident.
Malvika said, “I was talking to Shadab, he said that he feels harassed by the police ever since this incident. If he himself is feeling put upon, subjugated by their constant questioning, by their almost hostile aggressive behaviour to him, then one can well understand why the couple would not come forward. I would totally sympathise. They are probably traumatised enough.”
Is the profile of Mumbai and the average Mumbaikar changing?
Replying to the question Malvika said, “If people are voting that Mumbai is not the safest city then which city do they think is the safest city. That would be the interesting question. But yes the profile of Mumbai is changing.”
“Mumbai is relatively more safe than the other city but are women safe anywhere that is also the question to ask. I think women anywhere - whether it is in developed countries like America or in India or in Africa - are not safe. They are harassed, they are molested, they are raped and they are assaulted, “ she added.
It’s a crime against women issue. The police can be very easily blamed for inaction or perhaps even negligence, but is the psyche of the Mumbaikars changing?
Singh said,” As far as this incident is concerned the evident was so prominent the police should have taken action. As far as the quantum of the crime against women is concerned I think this is quite normal. Such crimes are bound to occur in a society.”
“As far as the Gateway of India is concerned, traditionally it has always been informally forbidden for women on the New Years Eve, “ he added.
But is the onus is on the women?
Replying to the question Singh said, “If a woman is wearing provocative clothes then it’s a bigger debate. When modeling contests take place in hotels, where women are moving around nearly bare, and then the police do not invoke the Indecent Representation to Women’s Act, again a question is raised, but as far as this case is concerned I don’t think this really signifies that there is a quantum rise in crime against women.”
Agreeing with what Malvika mentioned about the women safety in Mumbai, Shayna said,” I tend to agree with Malvika. The question is really - 'Are women safe anywhere?', because one just sees these atrocities against women all over. However, having said that, a city like Mumbai always bounces back and I think I would love to believe that these were a few straight cases. But we as citizens have to talk about it and should express our opinion to the public conscious at large.”
Results of the SMS poll:
Is Mumbai still the safest city for women?
No: 78 per cent
Yes: 22 per cent
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