BENGALURU: Shreya S and Malini Murthy are two college friends residing in Koramangala. Few months ago, there was a robbery at their house and the duo immediately went to file a police complaint at around 10 pm on the day of the incident.However, what they encountered at the police station was hardship instead of help or co-operation. “Far from registering our case, police officials started laughing at us, looking at our shorts and sleeveless pajamas,” says Shreya.
In the light of recent victim shaming of a 22-year-old rape victim by police officials of Sampangiramnagar, a number of Bengaluru women have shared their harrowing experience and apprehensions on approaching the police.Two months ago, Shivani Pradhan and her group of friends had gone for an all girl’s night out. Everything was going well until the time they had to hail a cab in Jeevanbhima Nagar. Two men groped Shivani and forcibly kissed her and fled. Although in a traumatic state, she somehow approached the police station.
“When we entered the police station, we were all dressed up and smelling of beer,” says Aishwarya, a friend of Shivani. “We were getting stared at and had to wait to be approached by the a police official,” she adds. Though the complaint was eventually filed the experience was one that left a bad taste in their mouths. “It was very awkward experience,” adds Aishwariya.
Gender sensatisation mandatory for police
Seemant Kumar Singh, Addl. Commissioner of police East says that gender sensatisation is a subject of police training in all three levels -- constables, sub-inspectors and DCP/IPS. “Experts including officials from women and child welfare committees and various NGOs come to share insights,” says Seemant.
Despite being a core subject there is still a lot of insensitivity as seen in the aforementioned cases. According to Rani Shetty, in-charge of Parihar and Vanitha Sahayavani, wings of the Bangalore City Police, it is important for victims to approach the highest official in charge and not reach out to any police official to vent out their grievance.
“Women don’t know that they have all the rights to reach the highest official in-charge for their case,” says Rani.Seemant says that the case of insensitivty shown by police officials will be discussed and dealt with stringently. “Our strict action goes as far as suspension. If the course on gender sensitivity is not working then corrective measures are necessary,” says Seemant Kumar.
Women-only police station
It is because of such cases that women-only police stations are emerging, says Rani. There are two women-only run police stations in the city, one in Shivaji Nagar and another one in Basavanagudi.
Seemant says, “One problem is that there are less female police officers,” he adds.
