City women want strict punishment for accused

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 11

After a high-profile stalking case reported in Chandigarh a few days back, the Bathinda Tribune team today checked out how safe Bathinda city is for girls.

Talking to Bathinda Tribune, some women and girls demand more policing in this area along with stricter punishment for accused in Chandigarh stalking case to send a strong message to the miscreants who will not dare do this in future.

Ashpuneet Kaur, Ajit road resident, said Ajit road has become more of geri route for boys than education point, due to which it has become challenging to stay here.

She said, “Many times I have seen boys standing outside my house where I have to ask them to move aside but I carry a fear inside me that if I will be rude to them, they can harm me.”

City resident Disha Katia said, “Bathinda is safe for women in the literal sense but not practically. Women empowerment is a concept which needs to be put into practice. Women shall feel free only when law enforcement is prompt and strict”.

Monika Garg, a resident of Power House road, said women safety is a big concern, particularly on the Ajit road and 100 feet road area, as you can see boys roaming in their cars with loud music and commenting, teasing girls outside education institutes almost daily. The police should intensify patrolling in this areas and strict action should be taken against the anyone creating nuisance.

She also claimed that accused in Chandigarh stalking case should be given strict punishment as girl has taken a brave step and if nothing happens in this case and accused goes scot free, then it will disappoint all the women, girls and they would not dare to lodge a report in these cases in the future.

A girl resident Shivani, who studies at one of the institute at Ajit road said, “I regularly travel from my home in Model Town to Ajit road on my scooty and often, some boys on bikes ride close to me and pass lewd comments.”

Shikha Gupta, a 12th class student, said the cops ask too many questions and it feels uncomfortable to approach them. Often during evening hours there is no female cop which makes it difficult to share the details of a harassment incident with a male cop. We have taken to downloading safety apps on smartphones and keeping a family member or friend in the loop of our whereabouts.

Some city NGOs have also come forward in support of the victim in the stalking incident. Local NGO Joint Action committee convener MM Behl has demanded strict punishment for the accused in this case.