I hope you are aware of the disgusting molestation incident at Juhu on New Year's Eve. I was always convinced that Bombay IS the safest city in the world. And, I had reason to believe that too. I've worked late nights to meet deadlines, I've done night shifts as well. Very rarely, have I felt uncomfortable or eerie while commuting between work and home. Which is why, what I experienced in an Andheri local last night has shocked me completely!
I boarded a local train at Andheri at about 8.45 pm only to find a couple of girls in the first class compartment. Well, we were travelling peacefully, until, two dangerously suspicious guys got in at Khar. Mind you, I was travelling in a First Class compartment that is only for ladies till 10 or 11 pm in the night. We three girls were witness to their antics as they strolled the compartment as if they were kings, and changed their seating every minute or so, observing us all the time. They were humming songs and what not. Finally, we girls decided we'll ask them to leave. Of course, it wasn't easy to do so. They were strong, stocky men and three of us together were no match for them. For all we knew, they could possess knives or other weapons too. Still, we gathered courage, we signalled a cop as the train stopped at Mahim station.
And to our greatest disappointment, the cop said, 'It's okay, they are allowed to travel after 9.' He really didn't seem to be bothered about our safety or the reason for our complaint at all. Infact, I could even see him frowning for wasting his precious time. After all, we weren't really related to him, how does it matter if the last girl to get off the train would've been mugged or killed? We finally decided to get down at the next station and get into the second class compartment.
When I discussed this incident with family and friends, they all agreed that none of us should be travelling in First Class after 9 and we should be more careful. Everybody asks girls to be more careful always. But I think, that's besides the point. Why can't the cop be reprimanded for not doing his duty? He could've simply asked the guys to get down and reassured us, right?
Why should we get so afraid while travelling alone in the night? We can't just stop working late nights to avoid such frightful events all the time. Why can't Bombay, the most independent and populated city in this country not have a security plan to ensure the safety of women in general?
