Late Night Parties Invite Rape: Gujarat Police's Sexist Poster Sparks Row

Gujarat traffic police's posters warning against attending late-night parties has sparked outrage. These posters, sponsored by the city traffic police, suggest that such activities could lead to rape or gang rape. The bold messages have been criticised for being sexist and fear-inducing, raising questions about the judgment and accountability of the city traffic police.

These controversial posters were spotted in areas like Sola and Chandlodia. They were written in Gujarati and carried the name of a group called 'Satarkta', with Ahmedabad traffic police listed as a sponsor. Neeta Desai, DCP (Traffic West), and Shailesh Modi, ACP (Traffic Admin), confirmed that Satarkta had permission to display posters for traffic awareness.

Public Backlash Over Fear-Based Messaging

The backlash on social media was swift after the posters went viral. In response, the police distanced themselves from the controversy. "The posters have now been removed," said Modi, acknowledging their indecency. N N Chaudhary, additional commissioner of police (traffic), clarified that Satarkta Group was permitted to put up traffic awareness posters but not those containing threats of sexual violence.

Citizens expressed their disapproval of the alarmist nature of these posters. Dr Bhumi Patel from Ghatlodia questioned how such insensitive messaging could be sanctioned officially. She wondered about the scrutiny process before granting permission for these messages.

Criticism of Victim-Blaming Mindset

Gayatri Shah, a fitness trainer from Bodakdev, criticised the posters for reducing women's safety to moral policing. She argued that they undermine public awareness by promoting fear instead of responsibility and protection. Minal Solanki from Nehrunagar echoed this sentiment, stating that these messages reflect a mindset that blames victims while absolving institutions of their duty to ensure safety.

The incident has highlighted concerns about using fear-based messaging in public safety campaigns. Many believe that such approaches do more harm than good by shifting blame onto potential victims rather than addressing systemic issues.