Police to issue notice to BPO firm where victim worked

Bengaluru: The police are issuing notice to the BPO firm, where the 22-year-old rape survivor worked, for not adhering to safety guidelines for women employees. The city police commissioner hinted at booking the BPO company if found culpable.

The victim who left her workplace late in the evening had to rely on a private Tempo Traveller to reach her paying guest accommodation. She was sexually assaulted by the driver and his accomplice in the vehicle on Saturday/Sunday night after they abducted her and took her to an isolated spot in Domlur.

The victim had come to the city only three months ago looking for a job. Over the period, she had been hunting for IT jobs along the stretch of Hosur Road as she stayed close by in Madivala, and had joined a part-time job at a private Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firm in Bommanahalli only a few days ago, said sources from the police. She used to travel by BMTC buses and private public transport to save money avoiding auto-rickshaws and private cabs, added the sources.

 On that fateful night on Saturday at around 9:30, she left her office and came to the bus stop nearby along with a female friend to reach her paying guest accommodation which is about 2.5 to 3 kilometers near St. John’s Hospital. “Though her friend warned her that the vehicle had no other passengers and suggested she take an auto or bus, she decided to board the vehicle as it was hardly 3 kilometers where she had to alight. She knew the route from her office to her PG on Hosur Main Road without any deviations until Madivala,” N.S. Megharikh, Commissioner of Police told reporters.

“The BPO she was working for, did not have any cab facilities for its employees as the management was trying to ‘cut corners’ said the police commissioner adding that a show cause notice will be sent to the company asking why action cannot be taken against them for not adhering to woman employees safety guidelines. The city top cop also said that the police going behind the victim’s company to prosecute them for their shortcomings in safety norms would come second and the sexual assault on the victim would be the main focus of the investigation.