Bengaluru Witnessed Mass Molestation And Became A City Where Cries For Help Were Louder Than Wishes

Saturday night proved, yet again, that when it came to celebrations, women of Bengaluru had only two options: Stay indoors or join the revelry and get molested.

Ahead of the celebrations, security had been beefed up at the epicentre of revelry ¨C Brigade Road and MG Road. Cops were everywhere, to help the people, yet, there were only distraught, hapless women left, post the celebration.

(Also read: Gurugram Techie Molested, Robbed By Cab Driver, Cops Make Her Run Around Over Jurisdiction)

BCCL

More than 60 CCTV cameras were strategically placed. A special task force was ready for any eventuality. There were metal detectors and barricades for the public on the Cauvery Emporium side as well as on the other end of Brigade Road near Rex Theatre, towards Residency Road.

And despite all the preparations¡­ the crowd that came to celebrate seemed uncontrollable.

BCCL

Compared to the last two years, I found the crowd was thicker and at the stroke of midnight, all hell broke loose. Despite several attempts by the police to clear up the area near Cauvery junction, the wild revelry continued such that women and children had to turn to friends and family for protection.

(Also read: Her Boss Molested Her, Issued Death Threats. Then His 'Selfie' Got Him Arrested)

Screams for help started ringing in the air as people in dire straits were not able to reach the police as they were caught in a sea of revellers, many of whom were clearly drunk and out of control, and looking to misbehave.

BCCL

Once, crowd-control began, complaints started to pour in as many young women, some of them weeping, started to run towards women police officers to save them from the unruly mob.

Though the police admitted that many were molested by unknown miscreants in the crowds, the victims themselves were not forthcoming ¨C either too shocked by the incident or too intimidated to reveal themselves to the media.

(Also read: UP Boy Fights Off Molesters Attacking His Sister, They Set Him On Fire)

There were some Good Samaritans too who rushed to the police seeking help to save a few girls caught in the unruly crowd. I witnessed a girl being surrounded by 20-odd drunk revellers, determined to keep her trapped within their circle despite her cries.

They let her go only after the police intervened and chased them away.

There was clearly more chaos than celebration as it was evident that many turned up only to misbehave than to enjoy the evening.

BCCL

Though some twenty such incidents followed one after another in quick succession, there might be much more people who could not get to the police or could not be rescued at all, such was the overwhelming situation that the New Year¡¯s Eve.

(Also read: Girl Writes A Letter To Tapsee Pannu Thanking Her For Initiating A Change After 'Pink')

Despite the police presence, the blatant molestations and sexual abuse of women were overwhelming to watch.