Why Is It So Painful to Witness Women Being Secretly Filmed and Harassed?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah condemns secret filming of women.
- The government has arrested offenders swiftly.
- Citizens are urged to report suspicious activities.
- The issue raises questions about women's safety in public spaces.
- Legal actions are in place for those violating privacy rights.
Bengaluru, July 10 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah, expressed his deep distress over the troubling incident involving the covert filming of women in public settings, where such footage is shared on social media in an inappropriate manner. He emphasized, “This is not the Karnataka we stand for.”
In a statement posted on social media platform X, CM Siddaramaiah remarked, “It deeply pains me to see women being secretly filmed and harassed in public spaces, with such videos circulating online at the expense of women’s dignity. This is not the Karnataka we stand for.”
He continued, “Many incidents have surfaced recently, and our government has taken swift action against the perpetrators, who are now in custody. We are closely monitoring these activities.”
Addressing the broader societal implications, he questioned, “What does it say about our society if women cannot walk freely without fear of voyeurism or harassment? Such acts are criminal and undermine our societal values.”
To reassure the women of Karnataka, he stated, “We stand with you. Your safety and dignity are our utmost priority, and we will take stringent action against such crimes.”
He urged all citizens to report any suspicious videos or accounts they may encounter online by contacting the cyber cell at 1930 or visiting cybercrime.gov.in. “Let us unite to create a Karnataka where every woman feels safe, respected, and free,” the CM concluded.
On Thursday, Bengaluru Police apprehended a 26-year-old man for allegedly filming women in public areas and sharing the footage on social media inappropriately.
The suspect, identified as Gurudeep Singh, was arrested by the Banashankari police following a suo moto case. This action was prompted when one of the victims tagged the Bengaluru Police Department on Instagram seeking redress.
DCP (South) Lokesh Jagalasar confirmed that the individual responsible for capturing voyeuristic images and videos of women to post online has been arrested, following a suo moto FIR lodged at the Banashankari police station.
According to police reports, the accused had been uploading videos of women filmed in public areas like Church Street in Bengaluru without their consent.
One victim reported that she began receiving lewd messages after a video featuring her was posted. She stressed that merely having a public Instagram profile or being in a public space does not equate to consenting to being filmed.
The accused faces charges under Section 78 (2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act.
The FIR indicates that the suspect filmed women from both the front and back in public spaces and uploaded 45 such videos on Instagram.
“By doing so, the accused has violated the privacy of women and tarnished their dignity,” the FIR states. Further investigations are ongoing.