Combating stalkers

The incidents of rape and sexual harassment on women and girls are showing no sign of abatement in the country in recent times

A mobile court on Thursday sentenced a youth to six months imprisonment for stalking a female medical student of Sher-E-Bangla Medical College (SBMC) at Barisal City. According to a report in this newspaper on Saturday, the convict who is only 21 years of age had been teasing the medical student for the last three years. We appreciate the punishment delivered by the mobile court.  
The incidents of rape and sexual harassment on women and girls are showing no sign of abatement in the country in recent times. Hardly a day passes without the incidents of repression on women. This menace is not only confined to cities and towns, it has spread to remote villages as well. The stalkers mainly target the women and girls belonging to the weak and vulnerable sections of the society. Families of many victims do not go to the police stations fearing reprisals and social stigma. In some cases the perpetrators threaten the victims not to file cases or raise voice. Harassment and apathy by police also discourage the victims to take shelter of law. There are also allegations that police appear as predators instead of protectors. 
It is disturbing to note that there is hardly any security for women and girls. School and college girls, working women, particularly garment workers and housewives, face stalkers on their way, at public transports, at markets and shopping malls. Many of them do not want to invite troubles by protesting the nuisances created by the stalkers. What is needed is social resistance against the stalkers. The rapists and stalkers should be awarded maximum punishment. Once it is done, the perpetrators of such heinous crimes will not dare commit such crimes. 
It is high time for the government to show zero tolerance to the stalkers. The lackadaisical attitude of the police in dealing with crimes of such natures must be shunned. Through their deeds they must prove that they are the true custodians of laws and the protectors of the law-abiding citizens of the state. They must be tough with the criminals, at the same time exercise tolerance and restraint with the justice-seekers so that no innocent person is harassed or intimidated by them. There should be proper monitoring of the stalking cases. Besides, summary trial of the cases may hasten the disposal of the cases. Creation of mass awareness can help a lot in this regard. 

 

Combating stalkers

The incidents of rape and sexual harassment on women and girls are showing no sign of abatement in the country in recent times

A mobile court on Thursday sentenced a youth to six months imprisonment for stalking a female medical student of Sher-E-Bangla Medical College (SBMC) at Barisal City. According to a report in this newspaper on Saturday, the convict who is only 21 years of age had been teasing the medical student for the last three years. We appreciate the punishment delivered by the mobile court. The incidents of rape and sexual harassment on women and girls are showing no sign of abatement in the country in recent times. Hardly a day passes without the incidents of repression on women. This menace is not only confined to cities and towns, it has spread to remote villages as well. The stalkers mainly target the women and girls belonging to the weak and vulnerable sections of the society. Families of many victims do not go to the police stations fearing reprisals and social stigma. In some cases the perpetrators threaten the victims not to file cases or raise voice. Harassment and apathy by police also discourage the victims to take shelter of law. There are also allegations that police appear as predators instead of protectors. It is disturbing to note that there is hardly any security for women and girls. School and college girls, working women, particularly garment workers and housewives, face stalkers on their way, at public transports, at markets and shopping malls. Many of them do not want to invite troubles by protesting the nuisances created by the stalkers. What is needed is social resistance against the stalkers. The rapists and stalkers should be awarded maximum punishment. Once it is done, the perpetrators of such heinous crimes will not dare commit such crimes. It is high time for the government to show zero tolerance to the stalkers. The lackadaisical attitude of the police in dealing with crimes of such natures must be shunned. Through their deeds they must prove that they are the true custodians of laws and the protectors of the law-abiding citizens of the state. They must be tough with the criminals, at the same time exercise tolerance and restraint with the justice-seekers so that no innocent person is harassed or intimidated by them. There should be proper monitoring of the stalking cases. Besides, summary trial of the cases may hasten the disposal of the cases. Creation of mass awareness can help a lot in this regard.