REACTIONS

How have you felt every time you ignored a stranger's eyes stripping you naked?

How often have you been a mute witness or spectator to street sexual violence?

How often have you whistled, passed remarks, leched, intimidated a female stranger, just for 'fun'?



By sharing testimonials of participating bloggers and members archived at the Blank Noise blog I am not speaking of poor 'victims' and outsiders as a minority. Every woman, girl, young or elderly, from any socio economic background, any skin colour, any body type, 'pretty', 'fair', 'fat', 'ugly', 'slutty', 'modest', 'bitchy', 'smart', 'over-smart', 'shy', 'scared', 'bold' has experienced it. She could be walking alone, in a group, with her parents. It could be 6 am, 7 am, 9 am, 12 noon, 4 pm, 8 pm, 10 pm, and it could happen in your neighbourhood, right outside your house, in the outskirts of town, in the heart of the city. She could be dressed in a salwar kameez, a school uniform, a sari, a pair of jeans and still experience it. Blank Noise clothes campaign " I did not ask for it" has been receiving clothes worn by women at the time of sexual violence. Each sender is taking a stand when she sends in the garment- she says, ' I did not 'ask for it'.

As much as incidents of sexual violence that shock and make news call for an alert alarm, one cannot deny the fact that sexual violation on the streets takes place ever single day by almost every woman in a variety of different forms. It is accepted and normalized because it is 'expected'.

How does the public react to reported incidents of streets sexual violence/ 'eve teasing?' Does this mean more rules for the average Indian male's wife? daughter? sister? Or does this information manifest itself in the financially secure/ independent women incubating themselves in private transport, paying an extra fee per month to block unwanted phone stalkers, carrying pepper spray in bags, mobile phones and being on hyper alert each time they leave home?

Is the public ready to see women as autonomous citizens that can access public space, unapologetically? While I understand and am framed in the cultural construct of being someone's daughter, sister etc I also choose to see myself as a citizen, as a member of public as a non 'victim'. Is society also reinforcing belief systems of men as beings to fear and women as victims that need to be protected?

Protected from whom? Who are the offenders? Violators? Criminals? Perpetrators?

By 2004, 6 months into starting Blank Noise I was able to lift my camera to the 'perpetrator's' face and photograph him. There was a range of encounters. Not only was the camera a defence mechanism/ tool but also the point of dialogue and engagement with the 'offender'.

Since then I have photographed men from different socio economic background for a wide spectrum of 'eve teasing/ molestation' incidents.

At a traffic signal around noon, I see a man making 'sexual gestures' with his tongue towards me from his car window. Shocked, a few seconds later I begin to photograph him. He continues to make gestures, this time suggesting that I am 'mad' and drives off.

While distributing pamphlets in Majestic bus depot one evening, a hand comes to grope. Am already in the 'Blank Noise mode' and the camera is out. I reach out for his collar, pull him, get pushed in return but manage to photograph him. He disappears like most others into the crowd.

Sipping coffee in a café, I can feel someone's eyes on me. I return the look with a glare and ask him if he has a problem. He smiles, nudges his friend and says ' nothing, nothing at all'. This continues for 15- 20 minutes, at the end of which I hand him a Blank Noise pamphlet and photograph him. I spend the rest of the day answering his phone calls. " Sorry. It was only a crush. I liked your eyes. I am not the 'sexual' type of man. It was only a crush." I have to admit, he was not sexually intimidating, he was annoying.

While addressing street sexual harassment it is important to understand the context and the nature of the offence. While interviewing men on the streets of Delhi I got familiar with one kind of 'eve teaser'. He was the hopeless/ helpless wooer. There were a range of responses to the question " how have you approached a woman you are attracted to on the street", many people had responses that would be categorized as ' stalking, and 'unsolicited conversation'. From their point of view they had not committed an offence. A shopkeeper at Sarojini market said I will keep following her and approaching her " kabhi na kabhi toh hasseena maan jayegi". Another young man said he walks upto women and introduces himself, for which he has been slapped on several occasions( his peers added). Likewise one is familiar with love revenge stories behind the acid attacks. Once I met a girl whose throat had been slit for saying NO to a man who desired her. What are the cultural wooing references? With the idea and image of masculinity evolving what are the kind of men and male behaviour our society is creating?

This post has been published at blogbharti for their spotlight series.


YOUR TURN NOW: THOSE RARELY ASKED BURNING QUESTIONS-
Mail any question for Blank Noise to blurtblanknoise@gmail.com or please leave it in the comments section at this post

BLURT BLANK NOISE

• How have you felt every time you ignored a stranger's eyes stripping you naked?
• How often have you been a mute witness or spectator to street sexual violence?
• How often have you whistled, passed remarks, leched, intimidated a female stranger, just for 'fun'?

By sharing testimonials of participating bloggers and members archived at the Blank Noise blog I am not speaking of poor 'victims' and outsiders as a minority. Every woman, girl, young or elderly, from any socio economic background, any skin colour, any body type, 'pretty', 'fair', 'fat', 'ugly', 'slutty', 'modest', 'bitchy', 'smart', 'over-smart', 'shy', 'scared', 'bold' has experienced it. She could be walking alone, in a group, with her parents. It could be 6 am, 7 am, 9 am, 12 noon, 4 pm, 8 pm, 10 pm, and it could happen in your neighbourhood, right outside your house, in the outskirts of town, in the heart of the city. She could be dressed in a salwar kameez, a school uniform, a sari, a pair of jeans and still experience it. Blank Noise clothes campaign " I did not ask for it" has been receiving clothes worn by women at the time of sexual violence. Each sender is taking a stand when she sends in the garment- she says, ' I did not 'ask for it'.

As much as incidents of sexual violence that shock and make news call for an alert alarm, one cannot deny the fact that sexual violation on the streets takes place ever single day by almost every woman in a variety of different forms. It is accepted and normalized because it is 'expected'.

How does the public react to reported incidents of streets sexual violence/ 'eve teasing?' Does this mean more rules for the average Indian male's wife? daughter? sister? Or does this information manifest itself in the financially secure/ independent women incubating themselves in private transport, paying an extra fee per month to block unwanted phone stalkers, carrying pepper spray in bags, mobile phones and being on hyper alert each time they leave home?

Is the public ready to see women as autonomous citizens that can access public space, unapologetically? While I understand and am framed in the cultural construct of being someone's daughter, sister etc I also choose to see myself as a citizen, as a member of public as a non 'victim'. Is society also reinforcing belief systems of men as beings to fear and women as victims that need to be protected?

Protected from whom? Who are the offenders? Violators? Criminals? Perpetrators?

By 2004, 6 months into starting Blank Noise I was able to lift my camera to the 'perpetrator's' face and photograph him. There was a range of encounters. Not only was the camera a defence mechanism/ tool but also the point of dialogue and engagement with the 'offender'.

Since then I have photographed men from different socio economic background for a wide spectrum of 'eve teasing/ molestation' incidents.

At a traffic signal around noon, I see a man making 'sexual gestures' with his tongue towards me from his car window. Shocked, a few seconds later I begin to photograph him. He continues to make gestures, this time suggesting that I am 'mad' and drives off.

While distributing pamphlets in Majestic bus depot one evening, a hand comes to grope. Am already in the 'Blank Noise mode' and the camera is out. I reach out for his collar, pull him, get pushed in return but manage to photograph him. He disappears like most others into the crowd.

Sipping coffee in a café, I can feel someone's eyes on me. I return the look with a glare and ask him if he has a problem. He smiles, nudges his friend and says ' nothing, nothing at all'. This continues for 15- 20 minutes, at the end of which I hand him a Blank Noise pamphlet and photograph him. I spend the rest of the day answering his phone calls. " Sorry. It was only a crush. I liked your eyes. I am not the 'sexual' type of man. It was only a crush." I have to admit, he was not sexually intimidating, he was annoying.

While addressing street sexual harassment it is important to understand the context and the nature of the offence. While interviewing men on the streets of Delhi I got familiar with one kind of 'eve teaser'. He was the hopeless/ helpless wooer. There were a range of responses to the question " how have you approached a woman you are attracted to on the street", many people had responses that would be categorized as ' stalking, and 'unsolicited conversation'. From their point of view they had not committed an offence. A shopkeeper at Sarojini market said I will keep following her and approaching her " kabhi na kabhi toh hasseena maan jayegi". Another young man said he walks upto women and introduces himself, for which he has been slapped on several occasions( his peers added). Likewise one is familiar with love revenge stories behind the acid attacks. Once I met a girl whose throat had been slit for saying NO to a man who desired her. What are the cultural wooing references? With the idea and image of masculinity evolving what are the kind of men and male behaviour our society is creating?

This post has been published at blogbharti for their spotlight series.

YOUR TURN NOW: THOSE RARELY ASKED BURNING QUESTIONS
Mail any question for Blank Noise to blurtblanknoise@gmail.com or please leave it in the comments section at this post

HOT NEWS/ TAAZA SAMACHAR

Donate to Blank Noise

Blank Noise has effortlessly pursued projects despite financial restraints. All Blank Noise activities were self funded. Some cities such as Blank Noise Kolkata, Delhi, Lucknow and Hyderabad actually created a kitty where each member contributed a nominal sum of Rs 20 per month( kolkata), while Hyderabad volunteers pitched in to create the Blank Noise pamphlets. While we are looking out for a sustainable method of generating funds, right now we would be extremely grateful with your extended support through donation.

At this moment we have posters and pamphlets to print, t shirts to make, new events to organize. To extend your support for Blank Noise by being a donor, please click on the DONATE button on the navigation bar to your right.

If you prefer to send in a cheque instead you could email us at blurtblanknoise at gmail dot com

Alternatively, if you have ideas on how Blank Noise could sustain itself, please email us. We always look forward to your ideas and suggestions.

On behalf of the Blank Noise Team (thank-you!!)

YOUR TURN NOW: ASK US A RARELY ASKED BURNING QUESTION

Over the last couple of years the Blank Noise project has devised several strategies to trigger debates on street sexual violence/ 'eve teasing'. We have been seen as clearly- feminist, interventionist, participatory, community building, agency building, empowering. etc etc. On the other end some have unfortunately perceived us as man-hating, angry , blindly extremist!

The comments on the blog will speak for themselves. We are happy to receive a reaction from you which is why almost ALL comments get published. We are averse only to indifference.

With this blog post, we want to open space for dialogue. If you have a question for Blank Noise, or even an area of doubt send it in right away. Your questions could be simple- but we must feel challenged to answer. For the first time, we are screaming out loud- QUESTION ME

Send in your rarely asked burning questions about Blank Noise to us at blurtblanknoise@gmail.com or leave it in the comments section below.

New volunteers are requested to participate more so, because with the answering of questions and clearing of doubts we will be able to hopefully move forward. It is always exciting and challenging to work with volunteers from all over the world because every individuals brings in his or her enthusiasm and interprets Blank Noise in a unique way.

At the end 20 questions will be selected and answered right here on the blog! All questions will be shared on the blog. Terribly tough questions are highly encouraged.

you can see some of the Blank Noise work here:

note vehicle number, t shirts, eve teasing- food chart- things I am not, Are you calling me?

I never asked for it?, Blank Noise Action Hero Testimonials Archive, Blank Noise blogathon, Cheap Girls, Stencilling testimonials, Street Actions across cities, Blank Noise Opinion Poll ( continued project), Walk the Night, I wish for my city and more..


All questions asked are going to be posted here:

1. Chaitanya K asks: have you ever considered getting religious establishments(churchpastors, temple priests, priestess's, etc..) involved in blank noise related activities?
2. Ashamed asks:
   
   1. I read that you were a victim once upon a time and that you started this initiative because of that. Could you please let me know what happened , I mean the actual incident that happened.
   2. Does being so actively involved against eve- teasing and subsequently against men prevent you from having good friends in the opposite sex? I mean guys would be scared to come and talk to you if they know that you photograph people and put them on the net.
   3. When you are with colleagues or friends and a casual physical contact by a male happens. Say like patting your shoulders etc... How do you differentiate it from eve-teasing? Since you are so actively involved in this, do you tend to misinterpret casual things as eve-teasing?
   
   

BUILDING BLANK NOISE

ATTN:
FOR ALL THOSE COMING HERE AFTER THE 9TH OF FEB and interested in volunteering with Blank Noise- Please sign up here

..............................................................


WE AT BLANK NOISE THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING TO THE "VOLUNTEER WITH BLANK NOISE" PROPOSAL. WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PARTICIPATION AND ARE EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH YOU. IT IS IN YOUR PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT THAT BLANK NOISE IS SHAPED.THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT SINCE 2003.

IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS EACH OF YOU WILL BE CONTACTED AND MEETINGS WILL BE CALLED FOR IN EACH OF THE CITIES. WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING A CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS AND THE ABSOLUTE DEADLINE FOR THIS THREE-MONTH SEASON WILL BE THE 9TH OF FEBRUARY.



PS: ALL THOSE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED WITH BLANK NOISE IN THE PAST ARE REQUESTED TO RENEW THEIR BLANK NOISE VOWS! PLEASE SHOOT OFF AN EMAIL SAYING "I VOLUNTEER"+ time details ofcourse


THEY SAID:


I VOLUNTEER- Shuruchi Sharma, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER-Sunitha Aravind, Bhubaneshwar, Orissa
I VOLUNTEER- Indulekha Arvind, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Payal Kamat, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Anagha Sarpotdar, Mumbai , Maharashtra
I VOLUNTEER- POOJA, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Ambika, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Amrutha Bhushan, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Vibha Ghai, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- HR BHAVANA RUDRAPPA-location unknown
I VOLUNTEER- MS Gayathri, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER –Priyanka Bhatt, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
I VOLUNTEER- Nisha Ravindranathan, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Jhuma Sen, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER- Neya Rangesh, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
I VOLUNTEER- Neelam Jain, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
I VOLUNTEER- Vibha Ghai, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Nasrin, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Arvind, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Mandeep Singh, Chandigarh
I VOLUNTEER- Mayank Agarwal, Pune, Maharashtra
I VOLUNTEER- Vivek Kakkar, Jaipur, Rajasthan
I VOLUNTEER-Venkataramani, Bangalore Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER-Chandrashekhar Bhattacharyya, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Javtis ,Houston, USA
I VOLUNTEER –Rhea Daniel, Mumbai, Maharastra + USA
I VOLUNTEER -Teresa Rehman, Guwahati, Assam
I VOLUNTEER- Tanya Sachdeva,Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Weiting Xu, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Priyanka Bhandari, Jodhpur, Rajasthan
I VOLUNTEER- Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Pawan Sony, Mumbai, Maharashtra
I VOLUNTEER- Ankit Chopra, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Siddharth Wadhwa, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Varsha Chandwani, Mumbai, Maharastra
I VOLUNTEER- Nisha Chandwani, Mumbai, Maharastra
I VOLUNTEER- Anupriya Verma, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Prayas Abhinav, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Padmasini Ramji, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Ankit Agur, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER- Kirtana Mohan, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Unmana Datta, Pune, Maharashtra
I VOLUNTEER- Dianne Sharma Winter, Dubai
I VOLUNTEER- Bhavana H R, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Roshani Subbarao, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Swatilekha Mohanty, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Vanitha P, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER- Sakshi Chopra, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Madhavi Sahu, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Indulekha Aravind, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Sharan Shahier, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Girijesh Kumar, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Ravneet Lail, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER- Veena Rao, Bangalore, Karntaka
I VOLUNTEER- Shivangini Tandon, Mumbai, Maharashtra
I VOLUNTEER- Priya Chopra, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Romal Singh, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Nidhi Gupta, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Purba Sarkar, Kolkata, West Bengal
I VOLUNTEER- Asavari Gill, Mumbai, Maharashtra
I VOLUNTEER- Vijay Subraveti, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER- Ahaana Banerjee, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Aanandita Bhatnagar, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Praveen Reddy, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER- Romal Singh, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Himadri, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Aparna Hajirnis, Mumbai, Maharashtra
I VOLUNTEER- Raga Malika, Manipal, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Payal Dhar, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Aienla Longkumer, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Pradeep Kumar, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Sharad Kapoor, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Ojasvi, New Delhi
I VOLUNTEER- Pooja Ananth, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Madhumita Kumar Rajan, Bangalore, Karnataka
I VOLUNTEER- Nitin Sarin, Chandigarh
I VOLUNTEER- Kismet Nakai, Chandigarh
I VOLUNTEER- Saurabh Goyal, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER- Praveen Reddy, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER- Nabila Zaidi, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER- Shinjini, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
I VOLUNTEER- Aditi K, Mumbai , Maharashtra



I VOLUNTEER- - - - WILL YOU?

PS: apologies in case you have written to us and are not on this list, please leave a comment below and we will add you right away!

VOLUNTEER WITH BLANK NOISE

Volunteers most wanted!

Anybody can apply. Blank Noise could do more with inputs from individuals who are committed, believe in Blank Noise, want to address 'eve teasing' as street sexual violence. The ideal Blank Noise volunteer has time and most importantly is enthusiastic and willing!

All we need is a bit of your time every week over a rotating three month period. Every 3 months a new team will be delegated roles, based on the volunteer's skill and area of interest. Volunteers could also be campaign specific instead of time specific.

Blank Noise behind the scenes is a resource pool of many individuals from diverse backgrounds. The team has had its share of rotating members from across age groups and backgrounds. There have been college students, home makers, architects, software programmers, journalists, consultants, professors, grandmother, flower seller, street hawkers, bus conductors, security guards, police men, child birth instructor, poets, film makers, actors,unemployed, self employed, heavily employed, bloggers, language translators,... etc .

Each participant has influenced and formed Blank Noise. There have been degrees of participation- while most have been floating members- members who make it when they have the time- there have been others who have dedicated time to the project. Some participants are here

Blank Noise in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Bangalore.

While we have no active group in Vizag, Jaipur and Pune, many individuals have written in over the years and expressed desire to form one.

24.01.08
We have Teresa writing in from Guwahati: if you would like to form a Blank Noise Guwahati- do write in right away!

Volunteering with Blank Noise involves a range of back end work- from admin and organizing, creative, production, post production, fund raising, to simply having conversations with strangers on the street. (other- you suggest, we add).

On the 5th of February, new groups will be announced in each of the cities.

To be part of this all new Blank Noise Team do email us by feb 3rd with

• a short note about yourself- skills, interests ( bio)
  
• the amount of time you can dedicate per month and or week
  

email: blurtblanknoiseATgmail.com subject titled " I VOLUNTEER- CITY NAME"

Thankyou!

Cars, number plates, harassers: UNWANTED

Weeks ago, I had written of a certain number plate and the man behind the wheel in that car. I posted the facts of the incident on my blog. In a few days, somebody had managed to trace the car registration number and location, and I wa given to understand that the police had paid the owner a friendly visit.

Today, I am doing so again.


Two men - probably in their twenties - in a car.
Number DL9 CP 1579.

On the night of January 9th, Wednesday, about 9.30 pm, this car slows down as these two men see a woman sitting in a blue cycle rickshaw. They follow, from Defence Colony market towards the Lajpat Nagar railway gate. They lean out of the window. The man driving asks the rickshaw-puller, 'Kyon, kya scene hai?' (So what's the scene?)

Awkward, the rickshaw-puller turns to look at his passenger. This is me, sitting stony-faced, and he guages the situation for what it is. He keeps pulling, casting sidelong, frightened glances at the car. I mull over the possibility of fighting back. There is plenty of traffic about and I am not alone. But this is a cycle-rickshaw and a car makes it vulnerable.

One man, middle-aged, in a car.
Number UP 16 Q 1298.

On the night of January 9th, Wednesday, about 9.30 pm, this car slows down a the man sees a woman sitting in a blue cycle rickhaw. He begins to follow, on the road leading to the Lajpat Nagar railway gate, and he peers out of his window, repeating 'come' and 'do you want to come?'

The rickshaw-puller kept turning to look at me. I sat, stony-faced, crossed every finger I had, and held my peace. Ordinarily, in this much traffic, when the going is slower than it would be if one walked, I would just get down and walk about hundred meters and would be home. This night, I didn't. Instead, I requested the rickshaw-puller to stay with me, stuck in this mini-jam for a good fifteen minutes. He agreed wordlessly, head bent, and dropped me to my very doorstep. Out of sheer gratitude and relief, I paid him twice the fare we'd decided on.

I had no camera or I'd have taken pictures and put them up in the 'UNWANTED' section. I did have a phone though, and eyes and a quick thumb. These are the car numbers. This is my personal FIR.

World, are you taking down my complaint?

[And since I am doing this now, here' another: Defence Colony again, near the market, another car had slowed down and followed, and despite my obvious disinterest and discomfort, had repeatedly asked me to get into his car. Number DL3C AP 4910. Date: November 15, 2007]


Blank Noise calls on all women who have been stalked in cars, harassed by drivers of cars (or bikes, or autos) to do the same. If you don't have a camera, use what you do have. Use your eyes, your memory, your phones, a pen and notebook. Put up the number plates here along with a brief description of what happened, where, what time and how you reacted. Treat this act as a personal First Information Report and share it with us so we can put it up in a new unwanted section.

reconfiguring the mard/ man

The all new Amul advert in response to Mumbai's 31st Dec 2007 street sexual violence incident.

Mard ya na mard? : Are you a man or just not a man/ not man enough?

Do Delhi people remember this one? Do stay on the Look Out and keep us posted.

How are you?

A mob of 70-80 men shamed India’s safest city groped and molested two young women for some 15 minutes on a busy main street in Mumbai’s glamour district Juhu early on New Year’s Day.

An identical incident had shamed India’s safest city exactly a year ago — a girl was molested by New Year’s eve revellers at the Gateway of India. That incident was captured on film by a popular Mumbai tabloid; Tuesday morning’s horror was shot by two Hindustan Times lensmen who happened to be on the spot.
The women — one in a black dress, the other in a jeans and top — emerged from the JW Marriott with two male friends around 1.45 am, and began walking towards Juhu beach close by.
A mob of about 40 got after them and began teasing the women. One of the women swore loudly at the hooligans.

But the mob, now 70-80 strong, wouldn’t let go. They trapped the women near a vehicle and a tree, and pounced on them. A man in a white shirt tore off the black dress. Another, in a blue shirt, led the assault. As the women fell on the ground, dozens of men jumped on them.

At which point, HT’s Satish Bate spotted a police van and shouted. Senior Inspector Amarjeet Singh rushed in swinging his cane and chased away the mob. He took the victims to the Juhu police station. However, no case was registered, Juhu police station in-charge Shivaji Tadlapurkar said.

A mob of 70-80 men groped and molested two young for some 15 minutes on a busy main street in Mumbai’s glamour district Juhu ...the mob, now 70-80 strong..trapped the near a vehicle and a tree, and pounced on them. A in a white shirt tore off the black dress. blue shirt, led the assault. As the fell on the ground, dozens of jumped on them.

A mob of 70-80 men groped and molested two young women for some 15 minutes on a busy main street in Mumbai’s glamour district Juhu ...the mob, now 70-80 strong..trapped the near a vehicle and a tree, and pounced on them. A in a white shirt tore off the black dress. blue shirt, led the assault. As the women fell on the ground, dozens of men jumped on them.

A mob of 70-80 men groped and molested two young women for some 15 minutes on a busy main street in Mumbai’s glamour district Juhu early on New Year’s Day.But the mob, now 70-80 strong, wouldn’t let go. They trapped the near a vehicle and a tree, and pounced on them. ...white shirt tore off the black dress. blue shirt, led the assault. As the fell on the ground, dozens of men jumped on them.shamed India’s safest city

A mob of 70-80 men groped and molested two young women for some 15 minutes on a busy main street in Mumbai’s glamour district. shamed India’s safest city

A mob of 70-80 groped and molested two young women for some 15 minutes go. They trapped the women near a vehicle and a tree, and pounced on them. A man in a white shirt tore off the black dress.on a busy main street in Mumbai’s glamour district Juhu early on New Year’s Day.But the mob, now 70-80 strong, wouldn’t let Another, in a blue shirt, led the assault. As the women fell on the ground, dozens of men jumped on them.

A mob of 70-80 men groped and molested two young women for some 15 minutes on a busy main street in Mumbai’s glamour district Juhu early on New Year’s Day. 70-80 , wouldn’t let go.trapped the near a vehicle and a tree, and pounced on them. in a white shirt tore off the black dress, blue shirt, led the assault. As the fell on the ground, dozens of jumped on them.

A mob of 70-80 men groped and molested two young women for some 15 minutes on a busy main street in Mumbai’s glamour district Juhu early on New Year’s Day.

A mob of 70-80 men groped and molested two young women for some 15 minutes on a busy main street in Mumbai’s glamour district Juhu early on New Year’s Day. shamed India’s safest city







14 days later .... 'how are you?'

Are you shocked enough ? For how long? Have you already moved on? Does this mean more rules for new year's eve? What is a mob? Who is a mob? Are you stirred enough? Do you expect it? Was this 'bound to happen'? Are you angry? Are you scared? Are you more anxious? What would you like to do? What would you like all of us to do? Tell us. How are you?

Do share with us, your thoughts and reactions about the Mumbai molestation/ street sexual violation episode and we will add you in the list below.

Here's what they said:

Lakshmi

Sepia Mutiny

Annie Zaidi

Sakshi Juneja

Hemangini Gupta

Emily Hansen

Ruia