Summary Number of assault, rape and molestation cases lodged from January to July were 46.
MUMBAI (Web Desk): A day after a 22-year-old photojournalist was raped by a group of five men in Mahalaxmi, womenfolk in Mumbai said Maximum City was no longer safe for a lone female wanting to venture out alone onto its streets.
As per the statistics available with the Government Railway Police (GRP), while the number of assault, rape and molestation cases lodged during the first half of the year (January to July) was 46, the number of cases lodged against male passengers for passing lewd remarks had crossed 700, and was said to be increasing with each passing day.
A senior GRP said, "Rising number of cases means that such people aren t afraid of the police. It is an alarming situation and could get the worst in the coming days if stringent action isn t initiated to put an end to this menace."
Mumtaz Kazi (42), the only female train driver in Central Railway, said she felt safe despite working for the public transport system.
"I think the percentage of such depraved persons is very less. I feel safe while driving the train. We have been given instructions for our safety when we are faced with such kind of adversity."
Gayatri Patel (30), Railway Protection Force (RPF) sub-inspector with Western Railway, feels that no woman is safe until she is aware of her surroundings.
"Women are not safe in Mumbai and I ve experienced it. Such culprits aren t bothered whether it s day or night. Yesterday s incident has sown the seeds of insecurity in the minds of women. Also, women are not being trained in the art of self-defence, which will help them tackle such scums with ease."
