In the wake of Delhi gang rape, women in city equip themselves with stun guns

HYDERABAD: The ripples of the horrific gangrape of a 23-year-old paramedical student in Delhi are being felt in the city with many working women taking matters into their own hands by purchasing pepper sprays, stun guns and some even joining self-defence classes.
“I used to get around one inquiry in four days for pepper spray cans. Now I get at least two inquiries per day,” said JP George, owner of a store that supplies Cobra Pepper spray and is making a brisk business.He adds that most of the customers inquiring for pepper sprays are young working women. Several BPOs have also approached him.
Although popular belief suggests that Hyderabad is relatively a safer city, a recent data of the crime records bureau shows that the number of rape cases went from 40 in 2010 to 60 so far this year. Harassment cases too were on the rise, from 897 in 2009 to 1036 till November 2012. Some have gone a step further and opted for stun gun or taser with many women contacting suppliers in other cities as the product is hard to find here. “We have received around 30 calls from Hyderabad in the last one month. Ever since the Guwahati molestation, there has been a 20% increase in the number of orders we get from cities like Hyderabad,” said Satful Sonawane, owner of Security Planet in Pune. The lack of awareness about these products and the low availability are a cause of concern, said city women. “You don't get pepper spray that easily here. This should be made available in the city. I have to hunt down a supplier of pepper spray and stun guns,” said Niharika Rohella, an MNC employee and resident of Madhapur. Niharika further said that she and some of her friends had joined a self defence class to be ready to handle any situation.
In light of recent events, including the Guwahati molestation, the recent gang rape and torture of a 23-year-old medical student in Delhi and closer home, rape of a five-year-old in Bidar, the city seems to have woken up to the problem.
Colleges in the city too are organizing talks and seminars on women’s safety. “A small awareness programme is being organized in the college to talk about a few safety precautions that women can take,” said Ankita Roy, student of St Francis Junior College, Secunderabad. At Loyola Degree College too, the management is planning to invite some activists and women’s organizations to deliver a talk.
The city police are also taking steps with a closer watch on women’s hostels, colleges, theatres and isolated areas during the night. “We have intensified patrolling in the city and we are even hiring vehicles to improve security checks,” said D Tirumala Rao, commissioner, Cyberabad Police. “Security will be intensified especially near IT hub, where a lot of women work in night shifts, CCTV cameras and permanent checkposts will be put up in areas like Cyber Towers, Raheja Mindspace etc,” he added.