Don’t Be a Victim, but a Proud Complainant!
Posted by weta global on November 27th, 2019
Stalking is an act of constantly following a person both physically and on the internet. Girls often fall prey to stalkers who keep an eye on their every activity from where they buy milk in the morning to returning from the workplace. The reason why a person is so keen on watching you can be many. He might be interested in getting your personal information, want to harass you or harm you. Women must be aware all the time of the people that surround them, from a safety perspective. Suspecting the intention of strangers talking to you or looking at you can help you differentiate between a common man commuting to his work and a stalker who only headed to the bus for you.
What should you do when encountering a stalker?
You never know when a stalker turns violent and conducts a crime against you. Your safety is in your own hands; below are some of the steps you must take to protect yourself -
1. Take Action - In India people prefer not to lodge a complaint and wait for things to settle down on their own. “The stalker will stop following me once they are sure I am not interested in him.” - this thought often stops girls and women from taking legal action. They fear of being wronged by the victim and becoming the topic of gossip in their society. What if the police don't take their words seriously? What if the criminal roams freely even after complaining? These doubts often hover over their mind. This only signals your weakness to the stalkers, strengthening their hopes and expectations.
Don’t wait for an unfortunate incident to happen, report straight away to the police. Don’t let them exploit you!
2. React - Ignoring the malicious behaviour of a person is a form of encouragement. Acknowledging that you know what they are up to is the first and foremost step you must take as a victim. Running away from the stalkers is not the solution. Change your approach! Warn them instead and report the incident to a nearby police station or file an online complaint to NCW(National Commission for Women).
3. Stick to the Case / Investigation - There is a set of procedures which are followed during legal proceedings. Therefore after you lodge an FIR or a court case, it can take weeks and sometimes even months to seek justice. Most of the women leave the case/ investigation in between. They either feel mentally strained by the police interrogation/ questions of the attorney or don’t have the time for visits. In both cases, the compromise on the victim’s end is a win for the stalker.
As per the latest NCW guidelines, both stalking and voyeurism are separate criminal acts and punishable. A stalker can be put behind bars for 1 to 3 years on being charged guilty.
For more information, you can either contact the All IndiaWomen's Helpline (All India) 1091 / 1090 or NCW India 0111-23219750. At WETA we voice your concerns to the high authorities and ensure justice is served. Be a part of the Telugu Women Association to stop eve-teasing, stalking and other acts that violate your dignity. Telugu Women Association also called WETA was set up to bring change in the way women are treated in society as a whole. Share stories of assaults and harassment with us.
