Thiruvananthapuram police tighten vigil near hostels, PGs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police has intensified patrolling and surveillance in and around working women hostels and paying guest accommodations in city. City police commissioner P. Prakash told DC that apart from patrolling vehicles, motorbike patrolling units have also been increased to keep a close watch on the trouble makers. The city police chief said there was opposition to installation of CCTV cameras at some places. “It is all about striking a right balance between safety and privacy. It's a choice whether someone would want a secure environment or a private one,” he added.

“We had strongly protested against installation of CCTV cameras as it was invading our privacy. Now we’ve been faced with a situation where our safety is under threat. So I think safety needs to be given priority,” said an inmate of a local hostel. Many who use hostel facilities and PG facilities echoed the similar concern. There have been repeated demands from various quarters to review safety measures at working women hostels and paying guest facilities. Such demands came in the wake of complaints of eve teasing and indecent exposure reported from areas such as Ambal-athinkala, Mulluvila, and Attinkuzhi.

The police surveillance has been stepped up in the wake of the recent attempt by an auto driver to assault a woman staying at a Paying Guest accommodation in Kazhakootam. “We have notified several Hostel and PG Houses to install CCTV cameras to check Kazhakootam type incidents. The lady did a great job by catching the offender on camera. Such prompt action by vigilant inmates will be of great help in checking such offences,’’ a cop said.

But much more needs to be done on the ground. "Hostels with Security Guards are no exception as men who easily pass off as a parent or elderly are allowed to get into the premises without any record left behind at the Entrance," said a medical student who had to encounter unfortunate incidents.