A 16-year-old girl was shocked when a male staffer entered the trial room at a mall near Unthkhana Square on Sunday, despite her protests. The family, after approaching the Imambada police, was further shocked when the mall’s supervisory staff refused to assist in filing a case against the staffer. The girl, who was at the mall with her parents, had entered the changing room to try on some clothes. To her surprise, the male staffer barged in, claiming he had some work. Disturbed by the incident, the girl stepped out to inform her parents.
The survivor’s father said the mall’s managers and others supported the action of the male staffer. Enraged by their brazen indifference, the father vented his ire at the accused trying to defend his actions. As per the local media report, “There were no women attendants at the outlet or near the women’s trial room. We want to raise the question how and why a male staffer entered a woman’s place of privacy when it’s clearly declared so by a display board,” the father said. The family later approached Imambada police station, where an offence of sexual harassment through voyeurism was registered against the accused, Sunil Raut, apart from invoking the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO).
DCP Rashmitha Rao said Raut was taken into custody, and a proposal for preventive action was also prepared against him. “We will take up the issue of safety of women and girls in the malls. We will also ensure installation of CCTV cameras in their premises and the deployment of women attendants in sections where women and girls are likely to visit,” said the DCP.