The call centre that employed the 22-year-old woman, who was allegedly gangraped on October 3, not just flouted safety norms for female employees working at night, but also seems to have been running illegally.
The woman was sexually assaulted by two men in a mini bus after leaving her workplace around 10 p.m. Police and the Chief Minister have directed the Labour Department to initiate action against the company for not providing transportation ( see graphics ) to employees.
Labour Department officials, who visited the company on Wednesday, filed a complaint with the Madivala police saying the proprietors should be booked for negligence and violation of safety provisions for women employees.
The inspection revealed that the company – which has fewer than 15 employees – was not registered under the Karnataka Shops and Commercial Establishments Act, 1961, which is mandatory for all Information Technology and allied sectors.
“It took us over three hours to find the office… The BPO functions in a small corner of premises registered under another technology company. We were told by the manager that it had not been registered under the Shops and Establishments Act,” said an officer who was part of the inspection team.
The Labour Department has issued a notice to the company to provide documents within three days, failing which a criminal case would be filed before a magistrate, said sources.
Meanwhile, the police have sought legal opinion on the culpability of the company following the complaint by the Labour Department. An officer said, “We have received a complaint against the owner of the company and the management for security lapses and failure to follow guidelines … we have sought the opinion of the legal cell.”
Just a week since she joined
The woman had joined the BPO barely a week before the incident on Saturday. According to the Labour Department, she had joined work on September 29 as a trainee. Her pay was Rs. 8,500 per month, said sources.
Suspects admit to crime: police
Sources in the police claimed that the two suspects admitted to the crime on Wednesday when they were taken around the city to reconstruct the sequence of events of October 3.
They claimed that it was their first criminal offence, but police have contacted their counterparts in Chikkamagalur to verify their background and claims.
Timeline:
October 3
9.30 p.m.: 22-year-old woman leaves office and waits at Bommanahalli junction for transportation to her PG accommodation at HSR Layout.
9.45 p.m.: Two persons in a mini bus approach her with the assurance of dropping her at the PG accommodation
10 p.m.: They take her to an isolated place in Madivala and sexually assault her.
11 p.m.: Her friends filed missing complaint with Madivala police. Attempts to contact her failed; her phone was switched off. An alert sent to night beat police.
October 4
2.30 a.m.: Culprits drop her close to her PG accommodation and warn her not to file a complaint. She calls her friend; is taken to St. John’s Hospital
4 a.m.: St. John’s hospital informs police of medico-legal case
October 5
Around noon: Two suspects, Sunil and Yogesh, picked up from their house in HSR Layout
Safety guidelines for women working post 8 p.m.
The guidelines were drawn up by the police after the rape and murder of a BPO worker by a man – impersonating as a company driver – in December 2005.
Must be provided transportation based on these guidelines
| » | No woman employee should be picked up first or dropped last |
| » | In case male employees are not commuting with them, security guards must escort women employees |
| » | GPS mandatory in cabs |
| » | Background check of drivers must be done through local police |
| » | Route charts and schedules must be made every Monday. |
| » | New or irregular drivers must not be given mobile numbers of women employees |
