NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj was shocked to hear a woman complaining that while walking in the Jahanpanah City Forest in south Delhi, some men had harassed her while she was taking a walk through the densely wooded area and flashed their private parts at her. Bharadwaj informed Delhi Police who visited the area and met other women there. None of the woman joggers, however, disclosed the need to lodge any official complaint.
On August 16, Bharadwaj, member of the legislative assembly from the Greater Kailash constituency, received a call from a woman who said she went to the forest for morning walks. The woman revealed that some miscreants in the park always tried to disturb women and at times even made obscene remarks at them.
“I spoke to the area DCP, and the following day the assistant commissioner of police reached the forest with two inspectors,” said Bharadwaj. “We collectively patrolled the forest area and spoke to many women. At least six of them did admit to uncomfortable moments during their morning and evening walks. But in front of the police, none of them wanted to file a complaint. The police officers have been supportive and are regularly present in the forest area.”
Two siblings who are regulars at the park informed the MLA of the time they were walking on the jungle trail and a man followed them. “The man then exhibited his private parts to the girls,” Bharadwaj claimed. “Some boys apparently come and sit and play loud music in the park. The forest area is frequented by joggers and walkers, men, women or children. The security staff has been briefed and we have told people to click pictures in case they notice anything inappropriate.”
The MLA has also deployed a team of women volunteers in the park so that they can keep any eye out for anti-social elements and are approachable for women joggers. He felt the women he met might have desisted from police complaints out of embarrassment or under social pressure.
Atul Thakur, DCP (South) maintained that police had not received any official complaint about harassment. “We carry out patrolling in the park on motorcycles and even bicycles. Police officers in plainclothes are also on rounds regularly,” said Thakur.