Most of the 330 black spots still lack safety steps, women at risk

Nagpur: In the wake of several heinous crimes against women being reported across the nation, city police have identified approximately 330 locations that are deemed unsafe for women. The vigilance around these spots has been increased after the issue of women’s safety once again came to the forefront of public discourse over the brutal rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
When apprehensions regarding the safety of women in public places in Nagpur too resurfaced, a senior police official said the Nagpur city police have identified approximately 330 locations that are deemed unsafe for women. “A significant number of these locations still lack the necessary safety measures. As per regulations, these spots should be equipped with security guards, CCTV cameras, and adequate street lighting. Unfortunately, many of these locations still do not have CCTV cameras installed,” the official stated.

TOI had recently reported instances of women being subjected to eve-teasing, ogling, and harassment by road romeos in the heart of the city.
Interestingly, until October 2023, the Nagpur police had identified only 178 unsafe spots for women. The number was subsequently increased to 330 after former CP Amitesh Kumar reprimanded senior officials for the low number of identified unsafe locations.
Last year, an engineering student was brutally attacked with an axe while on her way to college under the jurisdiction of Hingna police station. The incident sparked widespread outrage, and it was revealed that the location where the attack occurred was not in the list of unsafe spots for women. Kumar had issued a stern warning to police station in-charges, who then collected information about such spots under their jurisdiction. This renewed list revealed a total of 330 unsafe locations for women.
According to sources, these spots are seldom visited by local police or the Damini Pathak. “It takes the Damini Pathak more than a month to cover all these locations. If they visit a spot today, it would take them another month to patrol the same spot again. There is a pressing need for a proper patrolling mechanism in these areas. Every time an incident occurs, the police increase patrolling in the specific area, but they should carry out patrolling with the intention of preventing such crimes rather than acting after the fact,” sources said.
However, a senior official claimed that regular patrolling in sensitive areas is carried out by beat marshals and other local cops.