I am angry. Not for the fact that Britain would no longer be part of the EU. But for the terrible state of one of the most prominent institutes of India – the Railways.
The news of an IT girl being brutally murdered at the Nungambakkam Station in Chennai has indeed scared me out of my wits. What did she do wrong? Did she know her killer? While the investigations are under way, one must remember that the issue is bigger than what it appears to be.
This isn't the first time. About two years ago, Esther Anuhya, another female employee at an IT firm was found dead on the outskirts of Mumbai. The incident took place a few minutes after she had left the Lokmanya Tilak Railway Station around 5 am. It was only after 11 days of her murder did the authorities discover her body.
For years, native residents of both these cities have termed the place to be safe for women. But stories such as these do raise several questions. To begin with – what exactly is safety? Is the environment ideal for someone who is armed at all times or is it comfortable for the weak and unprepared as well?
I remember making countless trips to the Nungambakkam Railway Station situated approximately a kilometer or two from my hostel. But never have I imagined a person being hacked to death at the same place, in the early hours of the day. Having lived in Chennai for four long years, the city is more or less like my second home. One wonders now, if home is truly safe.
It's high time we raised questions that were so pertinent during the attacks at the CST Railway Station during the infamous 26/11. Ever wondered why the railways that cater to a larger group of commuters have less stringent methods of checking and a lackadaisical attitude toward security? Is commutation restricted for the elite? Are there people whom we can call out to when in danger?
Brutality knows no gender. Only when we speak up do we get the answers that we desire. So speak up. Question.
