Bike-borne miscreants molest girl at Kodialbail in city

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, March 2, 2016: Reports state that 2 bike-borne men allegedly molested a girl near Kodialguttu at Kodialbail in the city on February 29.The incident occurred when the girl was returning home in the evening. Two men who came in bike allegedly molested her. However, the locals rushed to rescue her after she screamed for help.

The molesters managed to flee from the spot.  The locals have informed Barke police and a complaint has been registered. Police are yet to trace the molesters. It is learnt that three months ago similar incident had taken place, when two bike-borne men molested a girl.

It has been reported that the number of hostels and Paying Guests have increased in the area and miscreants are too on a rise, targeting the girls living in such accommodations.

Salient observations on PGs :

 Paying guest (PG) accommodation isnow a thriving business in Mangaluru, yet it has no regulations laid down.  This absence of any proper mechanism to monitor the functioning of PG hostels in the city is evident.

A college lecturer who did some investigation, found that lack of regulation endangers the safety of women and students within and outside their premises.  The person finds that though most educational institutions provide accommodation, there are constraints in accommodating all migrant students, which has helped private hostels and PGs mushroom. She says it must be made compulsory for all hostels in the city to register with the district administration or police department.

The sample story of a lady student, of a PG house in Attavara narrates that the girl stays in a paying guest facility where the house owner has provided accommodation above his residence by attracting students and parents with glittering promises. But actually living here is miserable. They try to fit four to seven students in a small room, which is beyond understanding. When the issues were brought to the notice of the owner, he behaved rudely and ignored us, providing basic facilities is absent."

Even after paying a minimum charge of Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000 per month, the common complaints are cramped conditions, unhygienic environment and food. Apart from a lack of proper bathroom facilities for the number of occupants, cleanliness, security for valuables, extra charge for electricity usage -- as much as Rs 250 per individual to charge laptop and mobile phones -- are common features. The latest is attempts to trap the girls with shady room mates.   In  various hostels the basic complaints are also on occupant falling ill, there is absolutely no care and the sick have to fend for them selves. A careless attitude to the food  and hygiene is a major issue.

It is observed that the immediate need of the hour is a complaint cell/help desk, proper monitoring facilities to look for any violations pertaining to women’s safety and functioning of these institutions.In some private hostels, disturbing instances of the lesbian menace. They take advantage of the fact that girls are away from their homes and there is no monitoring. They usually influence, tempt and misuse innocent girls staying with them, a girl from a hostel stated. Apart from regulation measures for safety, educational institutions should have a list of registered paying guest facilities on their websites to help students get safe accommodation it was indicated.