E-Paper
Silence will encourage offenders
BY INVITATION
BY INVITATION
When we talk of crime against women, we should also consider the situation in sports.
Having been in sports for over a decade, I believe the possibility of harassment cannot be ruled out. I see this happening more in team events than in individual sports like target shooting.
In team events, where selection is the prerogative of officials, players are more vulnerable. Basketball is an example. Five take the field but 12 are selected. Since there is no benchmark, those on the fringes can be exploited. In individual sports, the chances of exploitation are less. In target shooting, it is individual performance that matters.
There are all sorts of people and athletes have to be careful. Recently, it was an eye opener when a few upcoming shooters alleged sexual harassment at the hands of foreign rifle coach Stanislas Lapidus. He had to quit as India coach. I believe athletes should repulse advances in the initial stages to discourage culprits. My parents gave me freedom but taught me to be cautious. I would teach the same to my daughter, who is three. It’s not just the sporting arena, women are harassed in all walks of life. I cannot understand why men can’t restrain themselves. Even staring and stalking is harassment, and many do not understand that.
Despite being in the police department, I am cautious when I go out alone for personal work. Last year, I had gone shopping with my daughter, and was surprised to see two college-going students staring at me.
They even had the audacity to follow me. This despite the fact I was in an official car. I stopped their car, gave them a thrashing and took them to the nearest police station. I didn’t register a first information report as it could jeopardise their future, but it must have been a lesson for them. If you allow the culprit to go escort free initially, it will encourage them. Girls should stand up and have the courage to take up the issue. As an officer I am not looking for an excuse, but police can’t provide security to every individual. The courage to fight back will definitely discourage the culprits. Parents should teach their daughters to be bold and handle the situation smartly.
Writer is an international shooter & a deputy superintendent of police
