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She had no option but to jaywalk her life

Miscreants gather on the service road along the Bellary Road, which is a favourite spot for people who pick up call girls, those who are engaged in flesh trade and transgenders.

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Ameena Shaikh, the 25-year-old call centre employee who died in an accident on Bellary Road on Sunday, did not have any other option than crossing the main road. Though there is a subway and an underpass, women often try to cross the road as they are scared of the menace of flesh trade that thrives on the service road.

Miscreants gather on the service road starting from BMTC bus stand opposite to the CBI office till Hebbal bus stand as Bellary Road is a favourite spot for people who pick up call girls, those who are engaged in flesh trade and transgenders. The service road stretch from CBI flyover till Hebbal, where there are many government offices, usually becomes isolated after 6.30 pm. After it gets dark, women involved in flesh trade start walking on the service road.

Women also opt to cross the main road as there is no light in the subway or the underpass. “The subway and underpass will be very dark after night so woman will not take that route,” said Manasa, a private firm employee staying in Anandanagar.

Reddy, the owner of a paying guest hostel where Ameena was staying, said: “Ameena has told my mother that some persons will be waiting near the subway and the underpass and harass and tease woman using the subway. They will disappear after 7am because vehicle start moving in that road but come back around 7pm in the evening. Many women staying with us have complained about this.”

An officer with RT Nagar traffic police station said on condition of anonymity: “There are mischievous characters who tease women in morning time as well. Patrolling is needed during that time. There should be light in the subway till 7am. The height of the divider on the flyover should also be increased.”

Ganganagar corporator V Anand said: “There was largescale flesh trade till six months ago. Now it is under control, as I have asked the police to be on the service road in the evening. Many people take a walk on the service road even in the morning. So there is no chance for mischievous characters to roam around the area at that time. But they are found sometimes. I will ask the police to increase patrolling.”

“I have seen many women trying to cross the main road. I have told them not to do so. I told the police if an accident happens when someone trying to cross the main road, then it should be called a suicide not an accident,” he said.

“I agree that there are no lights in the subway and the underpass. They are under repair. I have told the officials concerned who will do the needful in three days,” he said.

Deputy commissioner of police (west) SN Sidramappa said: “I went for a walk this evening in plain clothes but did not find any mischievous characters. I will make sure that henceforth there are no such characters on that road.”

Assistant commissioner of police, JC Nagar subdivision, HM Omkaraiah said: “It is a misconception that she died because she did not take the subway as mischievous characters were on that road. It happened in the morning.Our men will be patrolling the area to control chain snatching.”


Parents were against her working in Bangalore
Ameena Shaik, who completed her B Tech in a private college in Andhra Pradesh, was willing to work as a software engineer in a private company in Bangalore. But her parents, who did not want her to step outside their home, asked her to look for a job in Andhra Pradesh itself.

Ameena stayed in her house without work for one year, said her PG owner. “Ameena told me that her parents were not ready to send her to Bangalore. She somehow managed to convince them and came here three years ago,” the woman said.
During Ameena’s job hunt, companies told her they were not looking for freshers. She did not give up hope and patiently waited for three to four months.

“When there was no luck, she decided to join a call centre. She had worked with two companies so far,”  Reddy, son of the woman running the PG, said.

—HM Chaithanya Swamy

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