After seven years of the brutal gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical girl on the night of December 16, 2012, does a woman feel safe on Delhi roads during odd hours? The Pioneer carried out a reality check and spoke to women across the city. They all were susceptible of their safety especially after the sun set
Seven years have passed after the brutal gangrape of a paramedic, the Capital has yet to go a long way in providing a safe infrastructure and public transport to women. The grisly gangrape had exposed the perils of commuting at night. Although installation of GPS devices has been made mandatory by the Delhi Transport Department under the new permit conditions for the public service vehicles (PSVs), bus marshals have also been deployed in city buses, lot is still left to be done to ensure safety and security of girls and women especially those who work during nights and travel Back to their homes.
Post-December 16, 2012, there was an alarming increase in the number of rape cases being registered in the national Capital. The gravity of the situation could be judged from the fact that the Delhi Police recorded a staggering 200 per cent increase in rape cases and cases of molestation, eve teasing, stalking and outraging the modesty had gone up considerably.
Even after the gangrape and subsequent murder of Nirbhaya in a moving bus had jolted the conscience of the country and had forced the then Government at the Centre and the Delhi Police announce a slew of protective measures. The Delhi Police officers deny that the rise in this crime has made the national Capital highly unsafe for girls and women. The spike in the figure is due to the “free and fair policy of registration” adopted by the force on the instructions of the Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik.
“There are standing instructions to the rank and file to register a case under the relevant sections once a girl/woman approaches a police station with her complaint,” a senior police official said.
Delhi had recorded 632 rapes in 2012 and the same figure jumped to 1,493 in 2013. Cases of molestation too had gone up to 3,237 in 2013 as compared to 632 in the previous year. This is a whopping 500 per cent increase and that has been a major cause of worry since then.
According to the Delhi Police data for the current year, “A total of 2,616 women reported molestation cases, 427 filed a case of insult to the modesty of women, 3,104 cases of kidnapping of women in Delhi were reported and1,947 rape cases have been registered till November 15, 2019, in the Capital. As the year closes, rape figure may well jump over 2,000 cases.”
According to statics, six rapes and eight molestation cases are reported on an average everyday.
As the clamour to hang the four rapists of Nirbhaya, the national Capital is witnessing a series of protests against the rape accused Akshay Thakur, Vinay Sharma, Mukesh Singh and Pawan Gupta — the four convicts put on death row by the Saket fast track court and later on by Delhi High Court and Supreme Court.
After seven years of the brutal gangrape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical girl on the night of December 16, 2012, does a woman feel safe on Delhi roads during odd hours? The Pioneer carried out a reality check and spoke women across the city. They all were susceptible of their safety especially after the sun set.
Though, the Delhi Police claims that they have identified more than 2,000 desolate stretches, which are considered too dangerous for women to venture out during odd hours, (10 pm to 2 am), in the Capital and police said they have intensified its patrolling in those areas. There are still several darks spots in city where civic agencies have also failed to install street lights.
Out of 2,000 desolate stretches, 25 spots, according to sources, are crime-prone. These includes metro station points such as Dwarka Mor, Uttam Nagar, Janakpuri West, Janakpuri East, Tilak Nagar, ITO, Jama Masjid, Govindpuri, Shadipur, Chandni Chowk, Kashmere Gate, New Delhi, Adarsh Nagar, Vishwavidyalaya and Jahangirpuri. The other stretches are Lajpat Nagar, South Extension, Saket, Vasant Vihar and Dhaula Kuan area.
Explaining the reason behind insecurity in women while travelling on roads, Esha, a resident of Malviya Nagar, said gender inequality and the systemic discrimination that women face in a patriarchal system limit their movement to such an extent that they just don’t have the ‘licence’ to hang around with their friends or alone in public spaces. What’s worse is that movement is restricted both in terms of time and space and women have to dress in a certain way to feel ‘comfortable’ in public.
“Infrastructure in Delhi is also the issue. Most residential colonies in Delhi are poorly lit. Even main roads, inner streets, sections of markets, areas between residential blocks and bus stops pose a threat. Most women now keep pepper spray or other safety equipment with them but such individualistic solutions like pepper-spray and self-defence are not an answer to our plight. This is jugaad, a make-do arrangement to protect ourselves not a permanent solution,” said Suchi Sharma, a resident of Malviya Nagar.
“During night hours, whenever I travel from Qutub Minar Metro Station towards Maidangarhi road, the area which is popularly known as 100 feet road, I had never seen street lights switched on. Though I have seen PCR vans roaming in the area but this dark stretch needs lightning and more patrolling,” said Anshika, a resident of Chattarpur area.
“Women like me work till late at office and if it’s about our safety I don’t feel safe. It is not the police and or agencies only to blame but the mindset of people who are indulged in harassing women. Such people mindset is to be blamed,” said Anshika.
“There always stalking and following incidents whenever a woman is returning late from office or any party etc. The night roamers, mostly drunk, leave no stone unturned to harass and molest women,” said Surbhi, a resident of Munirika.
According to Sharat Kumar Sinha, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Police Control Room (PCR) unit of the Delhi Police, the Mobile Patrol Vehicles (MPVs) have intensified its patrolling at frequently and vulnerable points used by the families, working women and night travellers’ safety.
“Large numbers of PCR vans are stationed with specific direction to do patrolling in areas frequently used by women to ensure their safety. Around 30 PRAKHAR vans are focused specially for taking action against street crimes with emphasis on women safety,” Sinha added.
“Around 15 women PCR vans are deployed ensuring women safety at many places. Even tourist PCR vans are also ensured towards safety of tourists and women at locations including Red fort, Qutub Minar, Janpath Market, India Gate. Around 48 PCR vans are also deputed at schools and colleges across the city for safety and security of the girls and women. Where ever there is street light issue we make sure to inform the authorities concerned regarding it,” Sinha said.
According to a police official who does not wished to be named, presently there are only 10,184 women police personnel in the Delhi Police out of a total strength of 87,500 personnel.
“The vacancies add up to 26,000 - more than double of what the existing strength is. Though police in this strength makes sure crime is low,” he added.
Anil Mittal, Additional Public Relation Officer (APRO), Delhi Police said police has left no stone unturned in providing safety and security to women in the national Capital and several steps have been initiated in the aftermath of the unfortunate December 16 gangrape.
“Efforts made by the Delhi Police have shown positive results and men and officers have been asked to be vigilant in ensuring the safety of girls and women. We are here to provide security and safety to women and girls,” Mittal said.