Controversial Ahmedabad Posters Blame Women for Rape, Spark Outrage

Controversial Ahmedabad Posters Blame Women for Rape, Spark Outrage

Last Updated Aug - 03 - 2025, 12:37 PM | Source : Fela news

Posters in Ahmedabad warning women against late-night outings to avoid rape stir backlash. Police deny involvement; AAP slams Gujarat govt over rising sexual vi

Posters allegedly linked to a traffic safety campaign by the Ahmedabad traffic police have sparked outrage after some of them implied that women should stay indoors to avoid sexual assault. The posters, found in areas like Sola and Chandlodia, contained alarming messages such as “Do not attend late-night parties, you could be raped or gangraped” and “Do not go with your friend to dark, isolated areas, what if she is raped or gangraped?” The content provoked criticism from opposition parties, particularly regarding women’s safety in Gujarat.

Following backlash, authorities removed the posters. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic West) Neeta Desai stated that the traffic police had approved posters focused solely on road safety and were not involved with those addressing women's safety. She clarified that the controversial posters were the work of an NGO named Satarkta Group and had been displayed without police approval. According to Desai, the NGO had previously approached the department requesting to hold traffic awareness events in schools and colleges, with traffic police officers participating. “We were shown only traffic-related posters. These offensive ones were never presented to us and were put up without our knowledge,” she said. The posters were removed as soon as the issue came to their attention, she added.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) seized the opportunity to criticize the ruling BJP in Gujarat, accusing the government of failing to ensure women’s safety despite public declarations about women’s empowerment. In a statement, AAP pointed out that over the past three years, Gujarat has witnessed more than 6,500 rape cases and 36 gang rapes — averaging over five rapes daily. “While BJP leaders talk about protecting women, these posters in Ahmedabad reflect the grim reality. We ask the Chief Minister: Should women in Gujarat avoid stepping out at night altogether?” the party questioned.

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