Congress corporator Brian Miranda warns Manipuri girls to 'dress properly'
Source: The Sangai Express / Courtesy- Afternoon

Mumbai, August 27 2016 : The spiralling increase of molestation cases involving Manipuri and other North-Eastern girls at Kalina has worried the Vakola Police no end.

However, local Congress Corporator Brian Miranda only has a chauvinistic barb for them… Even as the incidences of goons and drunken thugs harassing women at Kalina rise – with young Manipuri girls being prime targets – comes a salvo from local Congress Corporator Brian Miranda that could well raise the hackles of women's groups.

On the night of August 19, 2016, a 19-year old Manipuri girl was allegedly molested at Kolaveri village, Santacruz, by an unknown person, making it the third case of such violations to occur within a span of six months.

On hearing of it, local Congress Corporator Brian Miranda reportedly snorted,"These girls from North East India need to dress properly.

As that area is unsafe, Police has installed CCTV cameras to prevent such assaults" .

Incidentally, according to the Vakola Police officials, these attacks are mainly on North-Eastern women who stay on rent in Kalina.

There is a large percentage of North East Indian girls who work in spas, Chinese restaurants and other industries in this area.

They generally live in groups of four to five in rented premises and most return home late at night, making them an unfortunate target for molesters, who then flee after targeting them.

A Police constable from Vakola Police station on condition of anonymity said.

"The Kolaveri village area is very sensitive.

Most of the girls are from North East India, wear short dresses and wander about late at night.

Firstly, we have told their representatives that these girls should dress up properly.

They agree at that time, but go back to their old ways very soon.

It is not uncommon to see three of these North-Eastern girls with one man, roaming the streets at night" .

The increasing number of assaults on women at Vakola and Kalina is a worrisome factor for the Vakola Police officials.

Allegedly, there are a number of cases of such incidents that go unregistered, as these girls fear going to the Police and making the matter public.

Senior Inspector Mahadev Wavale of Vakola police station told Afternoon D & C about precautions they have been taking to avoid such incidents.

"Occasionally, we arrange meetings with the representatives of these North-Eastern girls and give them assurance that we will provide 100 percent protection to them in the locality.

They also co-operate with us and such incidents are unfortunate," says Wavale.

Slamming Corporator Miranda's chauvinistic take, Wavale reportedly said, "Everyone has the freedom to wear what they want.

The police is no one to judge.

This has nothing to do with dressing.

Their safety is our responsibility and they come to this city with some hope.

So we need to protect them, no matter what." On February 27, 2016: One Manipuri girl was molested by a person in which police denied filing an FIR ( First Information Report ) and filed a Non-cognizable offense.

But later, on March 3, 2016, they filed an FIR and arrested one person.

On May 1, 2016: One Manipuri woman who was accompanied by her friends was molested by three men and the Police had filed a cross FIR, that landed the unfortunate girl in jail.

In such cases, it is customary for the Police to take action against the accused under Section 354 (outraging a woman's modesty).

However, in the case of the August 19, 2016 molestation incident involving the Manipuri girl, an FIR against an unknown person had been filed, but no arrest has been made as yet.

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