Most eve-teasing incidents take place while commuting: Haryana Police

The Haryana Police's first-ever survey on eve-teasing has found that the maximum number of such incidents occur when victims travel to and from schools, colleges and offices.

"The online survey was conducted from May 2 to May 17 with an aim to assess the nature and scale of the problem in the state and devise an action plan which is closer to the ground reality," Additional Director General of Police, O P Singh said on Thursday.

A total of 28,539 people from all over the state participated in the survey. Among the respondents, 40 per cent were females of 14 years and above, he said.

"It is the biggest ever sample size for a population of 2.5 crore and the most exhaustive one. A total of 16 questions covering all aspects of eve-teasing were asked from the respondents. People from all age groups, gender and districts participated in the exercise," he said.

Quoting the survey, Singh said, "Eve-teasing is a major problem as eight out of ten respondents feared it in various degrees. Commuting to schools, colleges and workplaces is problematic as six out of ten said eve-teasing takes place during commute.

"Seven out of ten persons said such incidents take place in buses and trains. Seven out of ten said eve-teasers use public transport or bikes. Seven out of ten said the culprits operate in groups. Schools, colleges, markets, parks and public transports are the affected places," he said.

On being asked whether they fear eve-teasing, 85.2 per cent of the respondents replied in affirmative, while 24.4 per cent said they 'felt it always', 38 per cent said 'most of the time', 23.4 per cent 'occasionally' and 14.2 per cent said they 'never feared' such incidents.

A majority of 64.5 per cent said eve-teasing takes place during commuting to and from schools, colleges and offices, while 22.2 per cent said they encountered it in the evenings in parks, markets and coaching centres.

32.8 per cent said they feared it most in schools and colleges, 26.7 per cent in markets, 19.9 per cent in public transport, 16.5 per cent in parks, while 4.1 per cent said they fear it in workplaces, according to the survey.

39.1 per cent of the respondents said the maximum instances of eve-teasing take place in buses, while 30 per cent said they happen in trains, 14.8 per cent said in three-wheelers and 16.1 per cent said such incidents take place when one is out for walking.

"37.5 per cent respondents said eve-teasers use public transport, 32.8 per cent said they use two-wheelers, 22.8 per cent said they were among walkers and only 6.9 per cent blamed the car users.

"As many as 40.4 per cent said eve-teasers operate in a group of two, 25.2 per cent said in four and 23.1 per cent said they operate alone. Only 11.3 per cent said they operate in a group of more than four," the survey said.

Also, 40.2 per cent said eve-teasers were 'irritating', 23.5 per cent said they were 'dangerous', 18.1 per cent said they were 'criminals' and 18.2 per cent said they were 'harmless'.

In case of eve-teasers under 20 years of age, 36.3 per cent respondents said the culprits should be counselled in presence of parents, 33.1 per cent said they should be chided publicly, 18.2 per cent wanted them to be beaten up and 12.3 per cent said the culprits should be jailed right away.