The outrage over the sexual assaults in the city is spilling over on social media.
Several citizens have signed online petitions urging the government to “build and implement measures to avoid such horrific incidents from happening henceforth”.
Many have replaced their profile pictures on Facebook to a black dot. The caption of the profile picture reads: “Make this picture as your profile picture showing your protest against rape cases. This black dot is a mark of collective shame that the society faces today; it marks our collective mourning at the loss of humanity.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Ranjani Srinivasan, a human resource professional and young mother, said she did not have to think twice before changing her profile picture on Facebook. “I have become sceptical of people around me. What is the guarantee that we are safe anymore, when a woman was abducted right in front of her house? How can I be confident that my daughter is unharmed in school?” she asked, and pointed out to the increasing public outrage over the failure of the government and police administration in checking such incidents.
Sharmista Shankaranarayana, a financial analyst who also runs a women’s self-help group, believed that changing the profile picture was just one way of expressing solidarity with the victims of sexual assault. Agreeing with her, Neetu Sadhwani, a freelance trainer and young mother of twin girls, said she did not want her daughters to grow up in fear. “There is a lot of anger and frustration in society today. Women do not seem to be respected, as they should.” She also added that it was now imperative for parents to teach their children about “good touch and bad touch”.