Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has expressed deep anguish over recent incidents of voyeurism and harassment of women in public spaces, where videos were secretly filmed and circulated online, violating their privacy and dignity.
In a strongly worded post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister declared, “It pains me deeply to see women being secretly filmed and harassed in public spaces, with such videos circulated online at the cost of women’s dignity. This is not the Karnataka we stand for,” and warned that such acts not only constitute crimes but are also a betrayal of societal values.
Over the past few days, several such incidents have come to light. The CM confirmed that the state government has responded swiftly, with the offenders already arrested and investigations underway. “Many incidents have been reported in the last few days, and our government has taken immediate action against the offenders, who have been arrested. We are monitoring such activities closely,” he said.
Raising concerns about the direction society is headed, Siddaramaiah questioned, “We must ask ourselves: where is our society headed if women cannot walk freely without fear of voyeurism or harassment? Such acts are crimes and betray our values as a society?”
Reassuring citizens, he added, “To the women of our state: we stand with you. Your safety and dignity are our priority, and we will act firmly against such crimes.”
He also made a direct appeal to the public to play a role in curbing digital abuse. “I urge every citizen: if you come across such videos or accounts online, please report them immediately to the cyber cell by calling 1930 or visiting http://cybercrime.gov.in,” he urged.
Reaffirming the state’s commitment to women’s rights and safety, Siddaramaiah concluded by calling on society to unite in building a Karnataka where every woman feels safe, respected, and empowered.
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