Women’s safety, lost in a flash

Some of the most tony roads in Bangalore can also turn out to be the nastiest for women. Ask any girl who frequents areas such as Brigade Road, Residency Road or MG Road and chances are that she will relate a horrifying tale of a disgusting habit some men indulge in in public places — flashing. 

It could be attributed to man’s animal instinct and involves revealing the genital area to an unsuspecting woman. 
Although it has not reached such alarming proportions in Bangalore yet, this growing menace needs to be dealt with an iron hand.

The number of women who are flashed at is gradually increasing, making the fairer sex insecure. Cases have ranged from one person doing it in public places to a group of people in busy roads like Residency Road. “Even at 8pm, when the traffic  density is high, four people came up to me flashing their genital area. I had to run as they did not look sane,” said Arathi J, a writer.

“A few days ago, I had one of the most disgusting experiences in my life. I was travelling in a BMTC bus when I felt something wet on my back. When I turned, I was shocked to see this man masturbating. Utterly shocked and disgusted, I went to the front of the bus and travelled the rest of the distance standing,” said Smitha KG, a software engineer.

“I was flashed at by a man at Majestic,” says Shubha Jalal, a college student. “I was waiting for the bus and this person was staring at me. Since I felt uncomfortable, I kept moving away from him, but he kept following me. When I finally thought he was away, he was right behind me and he had unzipped his trousers. Even though it was a crowded place, I felt helpless and moved away. But I was really scared.”