Calling it a “shocking breach of women’s privacy”, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has issued a show cause notice to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) while taking cognisance of news reports of CCTV footage of some Delhi Metro passengers getting intimate being leaked and uploaded on pornographic websites.
It has written to the DMRC directing it to file an action taken report within two weeks explaining not just how the lapse happened, but also what is being done to ensure that it is not repeated.
Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday, NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma said: “This incident has highlighted a serious security lapse on part of the DMRC and the Central Industrial Security Force. Both are responsible for ensuring the security and privacy of the passengers. This incident involving the general public is a serious violation of their privacy. Technology and systems have been put in place at Delhi Metro for the security of passengers, and not for their exploitation.”
The NCW has also announced that it will conduct surprise checks in the Delhi Metro this coming week to ensure that there is no harassment of women in the coaches meant exclusively for them. Ms. Sharma said the DMRC has assured that an internal inquiry had been initiated.
“We have been told that over 200 videos of couples in intimate positions in near-empty coaches have been made into two-minute to eight-minute clips and uploaded on pornographic websites. The practice has been continuing since 2011. This is something that needs to be looked into immediately, rectified and stopped.”
