Forum members protest against harassment of women

Claim rise in crime against women, demand protection

Activists of the Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane (JMS) staged a protest outside the office of the Superintendent of Police on Wednesday, demanding repression of harassment of women.

Walking through the streets of the City starting from the Travellers’ Bungalow, the protesters sat in front of the SP’s office also demanding protection for women.

K S Lakshmi, state level general secretary of the JMS, said female foeticide, honour killing and dowry deaths and torture continued in spite of efforts by the police and the law to prevent such acts.  

Office trouble

“Women who face sexual harassment at work have no protection. Many women, who have no way of sharing their problems of physical and mental torture with others, end up committing suicide. Prostitution and human trafficking are the reasons for several women ending up missing in recent times,” she alleged.

B Savithramma, Zilla Panchayat member, said the number of cases of women in the district committing suicide has only risen.

“Three women ended their lives for different reasons on the same day, barely 10 days ago. Instances of harassment of women is increasing in all six taluks of Chikkaballapur district,” she rued.

“Insecurity of life is a major problem for women. Even worse for the women is the fact that the guilty are not punished by law. Even cases of domestic violence and dowry torture are not dealt with appropriately,” she said.

Zilla Panchayat member Narayanamma, JMS lenders N M Pavithra, Fatima and others participated in the protest.