Privacy alien for women made by Tech-savvy voyeurs::TECH

KOZHIKODE: Intruding into the privacy of young girls and women with mobile cameras has become a habit for some tech-savvy anti-socials. T...

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KOZHIKODE: Intruding into the privacy of young girls and women with mobile cameras has become a habit for some tech-savvy anti-socials. Their targets could be anywhere including buses, trains or other public places. 

Though most women, fearing legal procedures, hesitate to approach the police with complaints against such individuals, the number of women who approach police with complaints has gone up considerably. According to data available with the police, nearly a dozen cases were registered in 2013 against such intrusions into privacy. 

While the Kozhikode railway police officials registered 3 such cases in 2013 on complaints of railway passengers, over 10 cases were reported at various stations with the city and rural police. The actual number of incidents reported is nearly three times higher, said an official, adding that they were unable to register cases in several instances as the women show reluctance in filing a complaint. 

"The accused in such cases are charged under Section 119 of the Kerala Police Act, 2011," said P Muraleedharan, sub-inspector, railway police station. Earlier, such persons were charged under Section 509 (outraging the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, he said.

While Section 509 does not define offences such as photographing a woman without her consent, Section 119 b of the Kerala Police Act clearly says that "any person who takes photographs or records videos or propagates them at any place in a manner affecting the reasonable privacy of women, shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine not exceeding ten thousand rupees or with both." 

"Once we were at Kozhikode beach when a well-dressed person started to record our visuals. As we were a group of six women we shouted at him, which caused people to gather at the spot. They snatched his mobile and deleted the video," shared Nimmy Mathew, a staff nurse with a private hospital. When asked why she or her friends did not register a complaint with the police, Nimmy said they did not want to get caught in any legal hassles as it could probably affect their job prospects. 

Many a time, private buses stop at our police station and drag out a youth who has allegedly taken a photograph of a woman/girl commuter, said a policeman with Nadakkavu police station. "Upon getting a written complaint from them, we register the FIR, he said. 

Cops, however, admit that the number of girls who come forward to file written complaints is less. "Once a youngster took a snap of a girl travelling on Parasuram Express. The incident took place between Thrissur and Shoranur. Upon reaching Shoranur, the girl approached the railway police. While handing over a petition to police, the girl received a call from her father, a government official, who asked her to withdraw the complaint and avoid legal complications," said an official who did not want to be identified. 

"Last week as I was travelling from Kannur to Kozhikode, I had a strong suspicion that the person sitting on the upper berth of the train was taking my pictures. But I did not complain as I was not sure of the offence," said P P Sahitha Mohan, a homemaker from Kannur. "Mobile cameras have become a nuisance and we lose our sense of security due to it," she added. 

Such photographing and videographing of women with blatant disregard for their personal space is not uncommon at tourism destinations and even on streets. In separate incidents, persons spotted taking pictures of girls have been caught red-handed at Kozhikode beach, Sarovaram biopark and Moffussil bus stand premises last year. 

"Not many men seem to be aware of the significance of the saying 'One's freedom ends where another person's freedom begins'," said Seena J, a resident of Cheverambalam, who is currently pursuing her PhD in Puducherry. "I really don't understand what prompts these persons to take photographs of women who are strangers to them," she said adding that in her experience, most such incidents occur on trains.

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