Late-night parties may lead to rape: Posters sponsored by Gujarat cops

AHMEDABAD: A police-sponsored poster campaign to dispense safety tips to women in Ahmedabad has sparked outrage with what many see as "sexist" and "alarmist" messaging, including a warning in big, bold letters: "Attending late-night parties could invite rape or gang rape".

The police brass has since had the posters removed, acknowledging that the content - a second poster says, 'Do not venture with friends into dark, isolated areas. You could be raped or gangraped' - was "unacceptable".

Neeta Desai, DCP (traffic west), and Shailesh Modi, ACP (traffic admin), said an organisation named Satarkta had approached police for permission to put up posters in Gujarati "for traffic awareness". Police were unaware of the "advice" printed on the posters plastered on dividers in areas like Sola and Chandlodi until a backlash erupted on social media, the ACP said.

"We never approved such language," said his colleague, ACP (traffic) N N Chaudhary.

Ghatlodia resident Bhumi Patel said police should have filtered the content before putting it out. "How could posters with such insensitive messaging that indirectly blame women for sexual violence be allowed to go up under official sanction? What kind of scrutiny was done before permission was given?" she said. Gaytri Shah, a fitness trainer from Bodakdev, said the posters made a mockery of women's safety, reducing it to moral policing. "They undermine the very idea of public awareness by peddling fear and control instead of responsibility and protection," she said.

Minal Solanki, a resident of Nehrunagar said the posters "reflect a mindset that blames the victim and absolves institutions of their failure to ensure safety without resorting to fear-mongering."