This article captures everything that you need to know about stalking: What is Stalking? What is the meaning of Stalking or Cyberstalking? How Stalking Impacts Women? Is Stalking A Punishable Offense? What Is The Punishment For Stalking In India? Why Don’t Women Complaint About Stalking? How To File Complaint Against Stalker? Read more to know.
Doesn’t matter whether you are a school student or a college graduate or a housewife or a working professional, as long as you are a woman, you must have been the victim of stalking. There is an increasing number of Indian women who are being stalked on a regular basis. Many times, the perpetrators hang in the vicinity of our schools, offices, colleges, or homes!
How Stalking Impacts Woman?
Stalking has made life of some women so difficult that they are even scared to venture out in public. They fear their stalker so much that they find ways not to step out of their homes. While many women insist on male company, there are others who dress modestly to ensure they avoid unsolicited, unwanted and unnecessary attention
What is Stalking? What is the meaning of Stalking or Cyberstalking?
As per the report by Hindustan Times, “Whoever monitors the use by a person of the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication that results in a fear of violence, or interferes with the mental peace of such person, commits the offence of stalking.”
Is Stalking A Punishable Offense? What Is The Punishment For Stalking In India?
Many are not aware that in India, stalking someone – physically or electronically through phone calls, text messages, or emails – is a criminal offence. The stalker (the person who stalks) could be punished with one to three years of jail.
Why Don’t Women Complaint About Stalking?
Even though the offense is punishable, there are many women who choose to stay silent or ignore their stalkers. Rather than approaching police and filing the complaint, they suffer quietly. It is mainly because they are either scared of approaching the police or assume that police will not help and support them!
How To File Complaint Against Stalker? Can I File Stalking Complaint Online? Is there a way to file complaint against stalker without approaching to police?
Yes, you can file the complaint against stalker online without approaching the police! Now, thanks to National Commission for Women (NCW), women who are being stalked, can complain online and the Commission will take the complaint forward to the the police.
Doesn’t matter where you live – women from any part of India can file this complaint. The commission provides the great support to the victim as it follow ups with the police to expedite the investigation. And in critical and serious cases, the commission forms an inquiry committee. This committee’s objective is to undertake an inquiry, examine witnesses and collect evidence, etc. With the power vested in the Commission, it can also summon the accused, the witnesses and police records, to facilitate the inquiry.
For any woman being stalked in Delhi, she can seek help from NCW by calling 1096. For women in the rest of the world can contact NCW at 011-23219750 and seek support against stalking.
For more details, please visit National Commission For Women website. (Also Read: 17 Best NGOs For Women Empowerment In India | Domestic Violence Helplines, Victim Rights & Kinds Of Abuse You Need To Know)
