Hyderabad: The groping of women at crowded places has become common in the city. Complaints about men groping women in crowded buses, bus stations and busy markets have been registered with SHE teams in Hyderabad and Cyberabad.
Earlier, women were reluctant to approach police stations to file complaints due to embarrassment. However, now the victims are using SHE team's Whatsapp and Facebook service to lodge complaints. The police are encouraging women to click photos of gropers using cell phone and send it to cops.
Earlier, IT and Panchayati Raj minister K.T. Rama Rao had referred a complaint to the SHE team after his friends reported to him about repeated incidents near the Saibaba temple at Dilsukhnagar. A 27-year-old teacher from Masab Tank, who regularly board buses at the Mehdipatnam bus station, says that she come across such men regularly.
“It's very difficult to even stand in the bus station during rush hour. I have been groped several times. The man who groped you might follow you inside the bus to continue what he did at the bus station,” she said.
“I did not react initially due to fear. One day, I told my brother and he alerted the police,” she added.
Police officials ask women to report the harassment they face in public places.
“We encourage victims to click photos of the groper and send it to us. It will help us to identify them," said a senior official from Cyberabad SHE teams. Police said that women should react instantly if they are groped which will attract others attention. "In some cases other passengers help the victim and hand over the offender to the police. Bearing harassment silently will lead to major offences,” said the official.
SHE team officials say that there are even students and retired persons among the arrested who harassed women at public places.
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