Pune Techie Murder: 9 Women Killed Since 2007, IT Firms Wake Up!

With nine incidents of working women being killed in Pune since 2007, Rasila’s case calls for some stern steps.

(Photo: Lijumol Joseph/ The Quint)

On 29 January 2017, Rasila OP, an Infosys techie was found murdered inside the conference room in her company premises.  The reason for murder – she had confronted the security guard just a day earlier for staring at her. Police nabbed the security guard from Mumbai, within hours of the incident, with the help of the CCTV footage and his call detail records. He was produced in court and was remanded in police custody for five days.

But this is not the first incident that the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech park at Hinjewadi has witnessed. It is the second murder in a span of two months and the tenth incident in a span of ten years, raising concerns over the security of women employees working in IT companies.

Video Editor: Sandeep Suman

Women Employees Don’t Feel Safe

In November 2007, BPO employee Jyotikumari Chaudhari was raped and murdered by a cab driver in a field at Gahunje – a village near Pune Mumbai expressway. Taking cognisance of this incident, the government issued a directive, listing measures to be taken by software firms to ensure women’s safety.

The IT companies complied and began appointing security guards in cabs and ensured that female employees would not be the last ones to be dropped home by cab drivers. But all these measures did not curb crime. 28-year-old techie, Nayana Pujari was found raped and murdered in Rajgurunagar village in Khed taluka on 7 October 2009. She was raped and murdered by cab drivers while returning home.

“Hinjewadi is very secluded and sometimes we don’t even have a security guard available”, Rakhi Yadav, a techie working in Hinjewadi IT Park for the last one year said, reacting to the incident.

I have never seen any police patrolling in the area. I work UK hours and if it’s late, we prefer travelling with our colleagues on personal bikes instead of cabs.

Rakhi Yadav, IT employee, Hinjewadi Park

“I too prefer travelling in my own vehicle if I have to stay back in office late in the night”, Pradnya Yadav added.

I prefer not to take the cab because sometimes security is not provided. Public transport is also not an option as frequency of buses is really low.

Pradnya Yadav, IT employee, Hinjewadi Park

Delay in Justice

Archana Kakde felt that companies were taking all the necessary measures.

But people working here come from across the social strata. So everyone doesn’t have a similar mindset. Gender sensitisation is needed.

Archana Kakde, IT employee, Hingewadi Park

But will this be enough? Nayana Pujari’s husband Abhijeet Pujari doesn’t agree.

A strong punishment to the accused in Nayana Pujari’s case would’ve sent the necessary message. But it’s been seven years since the incident and I am still fighting for justice. The government had already defined the rules after Jyotikumari Chaudhary’s murder. And had sent a reminder post Nayana’s murder. But I feel we are still stuck there. These rules are still not implemented. Security concerns are still not addressed. I am still fighting for justice in Nayana’s case. But now what I wish for is a secure environment for my daughter. I feel that the system is not serious leading to the security lapses.

Abhijeet Pujari, Nayana’s husband

Is Maharashtra Govt Doing Enough?

The directives mentioned by Abhijeet Pujari were the result of a question raised by Shiv Sena leader and member of legislative council Neelam Gorhe in the winter session of the assembly. She has now written to the commissioner of police demanding zero tolerance for all types of violence against women.

“There’s a need for the appointment of female security guards. 50 percent women security guards should be appointed”, she said.

Despite the government’s directives, many cabs still don’t have a GPS tracking system. Provision for flexi work hours also needs to be made. Also there is a need for counseling centers for women. Any kind of harassment at workplace needs to be taken seriously and action needs to be initiated immediately. We’ve also found out that the government has started helplines and a separate cell has been set up. But sufficient infrastructure is missing.

Neelam Gorhe, MLA, Shiv Sena

Curbing the Rise in Crime

Dr Rashmi Karandikar, Divisional Commissioner of Police suggested a list of measures that should be implemented to curb such incidents.

“Many a times security guards are outsourced. Psychological tests of security guards should be done before recruiting them. A senior female employee should accompany a junior female employee if she has to work late or on a holiday”, said Karandikar.

The Vishakha Committee Guidelines are still not being implemented in many companies. At least one meeting of the committee per month with the appointed member of an NGO is necessary. Companies should also place a dropbox in the premises in case someone wants to file an anonymous complaint.

Rashmi Karandikar, Divisional Commissioner of Police

A joint task force was formed by the IT firms and Hinjewadi police. “They do regular patrolling. Companies are doing everything that they can. We’ve also got CCTV cameras installed in the premises.” Mrityonjay Singh, President, Hinjewadi IT association said. “Women need to be careful on an individual level” he added.

The demand for a separate commissionerate in Pimpri Chinchawad, under which Hinjewadi falls is long pending. People working in the Hinjewadi area are now highlighting the need for one, citing the increase in crime rate.

(The author is a Pune-based reporter.)

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