Pondicherry by night safe for women: Lt Governor Kiran Bedi

Puducherry: “Puducherry is safe for woman, even at night”. This was no passing comment from a commoner. This was the former IPS officer and the Lt Governor of the Union Territory, Kiran Bedi who has said so after making an inspection round of the city at night.

Like the kings of old who went around their kingdom incognito to gauge the feelings of the citizens, the tough cop of the modern era also went around the city unrecognised on a two-wheeler, riding pillion with a member of her Raj Nivas team.  

Kiran Bedi took to her Twitter handle to give her clean chit to Pondy by night after her surprise ride around various areas of the city late Friday night to make an on the spot appraisal of the security arrangements and to gauge how safe the city was for woman at night.

In her bid not to be recognised as the de facto first citizen of the Union territory, the Lt Governor covered her face with her dupptta. Starting from Raj Nivas, Ms Bedi and her team members went through the important crowded areas of the city including Anna Salai and Kamaraj Salai. She also spent time in the bus terminal and inspected the security arrangements before returning  home.

As pictures of the ride emerged there was criticism that neither she nor the rider was wearing a helmet. Ms Bedi put out message on Twitter in response: “Not wearing helmet was a careful choice. Both wanted to appear vulnerable and see how we woman riding a bike at night are looked at”. The mandatory helmet rule is with a review committee in Puducherry.