Fear stalks women

Thirty-year-old Saina Jaipal has lived alone in various Indian cities for the past 10 years. She never felt unsafe anywhere, except recently when the newspapers started reporting atrocities against women at regular intervals.

“I came to Bangalore three years ago and have always felt safe here. But now,
after reading about all these triple murders involving women, I feel scared,” Saina, a PR professional residing in Cox Town, said.

Saina now carries two cans of pepper spray with her. With more reports about attacks on women being reported, her fear now borders on paranoia and she views strangers with suspicion.

“I took a cab last weekend and even though the driver’s behaviour was gentlemanly, I held on to my pepper spray can throughout the trip. I now double-lock the door of my house, secure all windows and inform friends about my daily schedule,” she said.

Saina finds solace in the fact that she stays close to the Frazer Town police station. She hopes that the police will respond immediately if she ever gives them a distress call.

Saina’s is not a case in isolation. Nearly 20% respondents of a DNA-commissioned survey considered the city unsafe.

The sale of pepper sprays, which retails at Rs499 per canister, has shown an increase of 50% in March 2009, compared to the previous year. The buyers comprise college students, young working women and senior citizens.

Real estate consultant Moushumi Chakraborty (27) is one among those who had bought the self-defence tool. “A year ago I was riding pillion with a friend on Old Madras Road when a man on another two-wheeler tried to snatch my bag. Though he didn’t succeed, we lost balance and fell on the road. I was injured in the incident. After this incident, I started carrying the pepper spray canister,” she said.

Moushumi, who stays alone in Murgeshpalya, is also on guard against a voyeristic neighbour. The neighbour recently received the ‘boiled water treatment’ at the hands of the ‘not-so-hapless’ woman.

The increasing number of attacks against women staying alone has become a major concern for the city police. The law and order agency has plans to educate women on precautions to be taken against possible assaults.

“Precaution” seems to be the buzzword among women too. “We have to protect ourselves and take all precaution. Nobody is going to help us, but it is always good to keep certain people informed about your whereabouts. I have been living alone in Bangalore for two years. I chose an apartment in a well-lit area and where people are always active. It is very important for women to choose the right locality,’’ said Reshmitha (34), a business process outsourcing professional living in KR Puram.

Sai Deepa (39), an advertising professional, of Hennur Main Road, also echoed similar sentiments. “The apartment I stay in has a rule that we have to put a sticker with our name and address on the car, so that they can recognise us while entering the premises. But, I refuse to do this, as I do not want people to know where I live,” she said.

The city police commissioner, Shankar M Bidari, said that women, if they feel insecure, can apply for arms license and possess a weapon. “This is also applicable for women who have employed security guards,” he said.

The officer suggested that women should install ‘magic eye’ on their front doors and identify visitors before letting them in. Also, women should maintain the telephone numbers of their immediate neighbours, jurisdictional police station, police control room and emergency helplines. He also suggested the installation of phones with caller ID facility.

According to additional commissioner of police (law and order) MR Pujar, valuables such as jewellery are best kept in bank lockers. He also warned against keeping huge amounts of cash at home, and talking about their wealth. 

The officer also said women should not travel alone at nights. “They should avoid isolated stretches,” he said. Pujar, however, expressed helplessness in cases of women getting murdered by relatives. “They should take precautionary measures and inform the police if they feel threatened by relatives,” he added.