An undercover operation led by Kozhikode DCP Merin Joseph and two women police officers to find out the safety of women in Kerala roads. The team ventured out on the streets of Kozhikode past 9 pm, not as police personnel, but as ordinary women.
DCP Merin and two women constables VK Soumya and M Sabitha walked around the city to find out what the city’s darkness had in store for its women. Merin says that a lot of people including media persons had been asking her about how safe the city was for women and says that she could always answer that question only from the point of view of a cop. That’s why DCP Merin decided to carry out such an experiment.
As the finding of the operation, she said that did not find a single woman on the road past 11.40 pm. Merin said that she found several vehicles slowing down as they went past her to stare at her. “Men stared at me, probably wondering what a lone woman was doing out at that time. They are just not used to the idea of a woman walking around at night.” Merin said.
While her own experience was limited to men staring at her, the case was slightly different for the other two women constables. Men on motorbikes slowed down and asked them to go with them. She said that strong police presence was found at night in all the places where the three women officers went. At one place, a cop on patrolling duty went up to DCP Merin to politely ask her if she wanted any help, she points out.
While the team confronted all the situations like a normal woman would do, DCP Merin points out that much needs to be changed to improve the safety of women.
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