Soliciting scares women on key roads

Chennai

Professionals and home-makers say they are now being mistaken for sex workers and harassed. Regular commuters and pedestrians on high-end stretches such as Nungambakkam High Road say well-groomed women lurking in the shadows suddenly step forward when a car or a motor bike stops nearby have been a feature of the locality for long. 

However, young women say the situation has changed and many regular commuters are being mistaken for sex workers and are being harassed. Priyanka (name changed on request) works in a restaurant and regularly uses share autos on Nungambakkam High Road after work. 

“Recently, after finishing my shift at around 9 pm, I decided to walk to the stand. It wasn’t very late and there was traffic on the road. As I began walking, a man on a bike stopped next to me and stared. I ignored and continued walking and he went ahead. I saw him again waiting a few meters ahead and he continued staring till I passed and the ordeal continued till I reached the bus stand after which he disappeared.” 

Nungambakkam High Road is one of the busiest stretches in the city and several women work in business establishments here. They face uncomfortable stares for the reputation the stretch has got. Often women who are wait on the road are caught unawares. 

“I was waiting for an auto after fetching money from the ATM when a man came and asked me ‘how much’. He fled after I threatened to call police” says Sonia Mathew, a long-time resident of Nungambakkam and a medical professional. Many residents say sex workers, many of them transgenders, have designated spots where they wait every night. 

People come in a car or a bike and after negotiation, they get onto the vehicle. This is not only limited to Nungambakkam. They can be found on Valluvar Kottam High Road, GN Chetty Road and even on Cathedral Road. Men say they too have experienced similar, harrowing experience. Many recall the nerve-wracking instances when they have been stopped by soliciting transgenders. 

“I was once stopped on the Valluvar Kottam High Road junction by a transgender while I was waiting at the stop. Since it was in the night, I didn’t know what to do, who to complain” says Vinay, a banking professional.  Members of the transgender community say that they are left with no other option but to try soliciting, since they find it difficult to get jobs. They say they themselves avoid unwarranted attention as it will affect their livelihood. 

However, residents say that they are often mistaken for sex workers and harassed. “It’s an unpleasant, scary experience,” said a young student. A former inspector attached to the Nungambakkam police confirmed that such solicitations on Nungambakkam High Road take place. “It has been a problem and we have had several complaints from many women. We used to depute a patrol team to chase away those who waited for customers,” the official added. 

Inspector Chidambara Bharathi of Nungambakkam police station said they would intensify the patrolling in the area. “We were all busy with the Swathi murder case and we will intensify our policing and check such anti-social behaviour,” he added.

Visit news.dtnext.in to explore our interactive epaper!

Download the DT Next app for more exciting features!

Click here for iOS

Click here for Android