Old Hyderabad city unsafe for women

Hyderabad: Women social workers from the Old City have compiled a list of places in the area where women do not feel safe due to eve teasers and drunkards and have handed it over to the South Zone police.

Jameela Nishat, who heads the women’s welfare organisation, Shaheen, said that the safety of girls was at stake in such areas.

Lack of police vigilance has prompted the offenders to target school, college going girls and working women in the areas of Mughalpura, Bhavani nagar, and many other places.  

“In Nashemannagar, near the Owaisi Excellence School, a group of men harasses school girls. They even flash to girls passing by,” said Ms Nishat.

Women’s rights activists say that it is almost impossible to pass by a roadside wine shop in the Old City without being harassed by men.

“The areas around such wine shops are quite dangerous. Many men who buy liquor from these shops consume it outside the shops and target women passing the area,” said a school teacher from Patelnagar.

The recent molestation and rape incidents, wherein victims were being picked up by offenders from these small pockets, also show the seriousness of the issue, said a women social worker.

A 44-year-old butcher had allegedly kidnapped and raped a Class III student near Yakutpura a few months ago.

Women activists say it is high time to increase police patrolling in this area.

Organisations like Shaheen have also taken up the safety issues to be raised in the upcoming election.

Local women voters are also asking for solutions to such issues when politicians come to the area asking for votes at election-time.