The success story of dogs nabbing an accused in Chennai who stabbed a woman, has made everyone happy but why has no one ever raised a voice against the alarmingly increasing murders or murder attempts against women in Chennai in broad daylight? Starting from Swathi who was murdered in a public place in broad daylight to Soniya who was again murdered by another man in broad daylight, it remains a curiosity forever. Also, both these murders took place at around 6:30 AM when the ladies left for their work.
This is the third attempt to murder at 6:30 AM and if not for the dogs, who would have caught the accused first? The fear of committing a crime has become so low that an individual has the guts to commit an offense in the broad daylight. Also, why are the above murders related to relationship failures and stalking?
To know more in depth, JFW had a short conversation with Kirthi Jayakumar, Women’s Rights Activist, and a well-renowned Lawyer. Have a read about the perfect solution to end this:
Why are these incidents happening in broad daylight?
To be honest, it worries me tremendously that there are so many instances that go unreported, and these incidents are also happening in broad daylight – but behind closed doors. That Swati and Sonia were murdered in full public view is both alarming and in many ways expected – because the patriarchy that allows for such horrific crime against women to subsist has remained entrenched in Chennai for years, as it has around the world. I have heard stories from a lot of women, both young and old alike, of how they’ve been groped, whistled at, harassed and even beaten.
The point is that even these things are crimes and these things happen in broad daylight. We have a culture of silence around these issues, and so we either don’t speak up, or we just internalize it as normal – until the pressure cooker bursts with these murders. Look at the films the Tamil Industry produces: a majority of them objectify women, endorse stalking and violence against women.
There are boys who emulate these at the ground level. Sexual violence is very much a reality here, too. Every incident of sexual abuse and harassment grows out of a heavily patriarchal society that is filled with toxic masculinity in pursuit of male hegemonic dominance over all other genders. Period. No incident is stray, no incident is out of the ordinary when you have a social backdrop that normalizes such violence. If we leave this unchecked, we’re doomed.
What is the solution to this? Kirthi Answers:
I feel Chennai is still growing up in terms of reporting and speaking out – It could have much to do with the conservative ways as a city, or just that people are opening up to speak out only belatedly. I think the gaps lie in the understanding that these things must be spoken about and offenses like these should be reported – whether it is by that lewd uncle at home or the wolf whistling man on board a bus. I will definitely say that we must be united and rise up against patriarchy in every way and fight the structural violence in their everyday.
First, report every instance, no matter what. Did you know that as a private citizen, you are allowed to make an arrest for a non-bailable (an offence that a person cannot be released on bail for, as a matter of right) and cognizable offence (an offence that a police officer can make an arrest for without a warrant) that happens in front of you? USE IT!
Second, educate people around you. Schools must have their children sensitized and educated, and taught gender equality. There are many organizations that do this – there’s my own (The Red Elephant Foundation) and Schools of Equality, that go from school to school to teach children, parents and teachers alike. We need to ensure that we shift the mindsets that prop these ideas up.