The Shimoga police have found an innovative way to deal with growing menace of eve-teasers in Shimoga
In a bid to put an end to this nuisance, Shimoga superintendent of police Ravi D Channannanavar introduced the all-women police patrol ‘Obavva' force to deal with eve-teasing incidents. The women police squad patrol the streets of the city to deal with such incidents on the spot.
“The Obavva force comprises of only women staff and officers. They patrol the streets in disguise to nab the culprits red-handed. Then they arrest them under Karnataka Police Act, 1963. In case if they are habitual offenders we would file rowdy sheeter case against them,” said Channannanava.
The residents of Shimoga hailed the police for its initiative.
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“A few youngsters torture us at the cinema hall queue, or during a social gathering and even at the bus stand. They usually operate near college campuses. This torture became unbearable. Now with the Obavva force in action, we are relieved,”said college student Pavitra.
Women can lodge complaints on the WhatsApp number which has been allotted to specifically deal with eve-teasing incidents. They can also send photos and videos of such events to the Obavva force number.
Who is Obavva?
Onake Obavva (18th century) was a legendary woman who fought against the forces of Hyder Ali single-handedly with a pestle (onake) in Chitradurga. Her husband was a watchtower guard of the Chitradurga rocky fort. Obavva used a pestle to kill Hyder Ali's soldiers who were invading the rocky fort.
She is considered to be the pride of Karnataka.
