Press Release

Fearless Karnataka / Nirbhaya Karnataka

c/o Alternative Law Forum, 122/4, Infantry Road, Bangalore 560001

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PRESS RELEASE: Bangalore, 28 February 2009, Saturday

In the last 10 days, across Bangalore, there have been 5 reported attacks on young women. The nature of the attacks has been similar – women have been targeted in public spaces such as Palace Road, Ulsoor, Indiranagar 100 feet road, Church Street by men who were completely unfamiliar to them. These attacks have also taken place in the presence of several bystanders between 1 pm in the afternoon and 12 midnight.

Fearless Karnataka or Nirbhaya Karnataka (a group of concerned citizens have come together to reclaim public spaces and promote safety for all) believes that these attacks on women are not isolated events. Neither can they be dismissed as trivial incidents of “eve-teasing”. Women across class barriers – from powrakarmikas to garment factory workers to students and young professionals in the corporate sector – have today become vulnerable targets on the streets of Karnataka.

In the wake of a series of attacks in Mangalore (the latest one was reported on February 24, 2009), women have been targeted in the name of morality, culture and “public decency” by Hindu right wing organizations. In Bangalore, the reasons for the attacks have been on similar lines – during the attacks, the girls were insulted for wearing jeans, sleeveless shirts and speaking English. We believe that the attacks in Bangalore then are a continuation of those that took place in Mangalore and coastal Karnataka regions – even though the identity of the attackers (and the organizations they belong to) could have differed.

We are concerned about the growing lawlessness in the State – a situation where people can attack women and walk free. Though there were arrests in Mangalore following the incident, the fact remains that all of them have been released on bail. In Bangalore, not a single arrest has been possible. Beyond arrests, we are concerned about the lack of preventive action from the police. In all instances of attacks in Bangalore, the much touted Hoysalas and Cheetahs were no where in sight. We believe that the State Government and the Home Minister in particular have to take responsibility for the lawlessness in the State and for police inaction. It is shocking that all political parties continue to remain mute spectators to these incidents of violence.

In an attempt to fight against the climate of fear, the collective would like to announce the following activities:

1. A protest march to the office of Dr. Ajai Kumar Singh, DG & IGP, on March 7, 2009.
2. A ‘Take Back the Night’ campaign on March 8, 2009
3. A poster campaign asking bystanders who witness attacks on women to act

There are several other efforts, including signature campaigns, art exhibitions, etc which will be announced shortly.