Bengaluru, 12 June

Around 10 civil society groups and NGOs protested at Freedom Park here on Wednesday against the rise in crimes against women in the State.

The protesters submitted a memorandum to Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, Chairman, Karnataka State Commission for Women. The protesters demanded stringent action against the accused in Prabuddha murder case and other cases of violence against women. They called for amendments to the law at a time when juvenile crimes are on a surge. 

The State reported a number of crimes against women over the last couple of weeks. A second-year BBA student Prabuddha was murdered in her home here by a 14-year-old boy in May 2024 for not giving Rs 2,000. Another act of violence was filed on 18 April, when Neha Hiremath, daughter of a Congress leader was murdered by Fayaz. Sexual harassment cases involving JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna were reported earlier this month.

Speaking to Salar News, Brinda Adige, founder-director Global Concerns India, said, “While we are working on action on gender-based violence, we also demand amendments to the present-day law.”

She said, “It is not that we subscribe to punishment, we subscribe to the fear of law that has been missing in the criminals for the past few years”.  

“Apart from appealing to the Government and the police to ensure proper action, the agenda is to educate people from childhood on subjects like gender sensitisation,” said Sushma Varma, member, Mahila Munnade.

Zeena Mani, another member from Global Concerns India, said, “I need not tell my daughter to dress properly; rather, I educate my son to respect women so that we create a society safe for women to live.”

"We, as a Society, are accountable for the severe crimes against women and educate the youth on gender sensitisation to prevent such crimes from happening,” said Nagalakshmi Chowdhary, Chairman, State Women Commission. —Salar News