Following Hyd vet’s murder, Hyd Metro allows women to carry pepper spray
By Aiswarya Sriram Published on 4 Dec 2019 4:26 PM GMT
Hyderabad: Following the harrowing death of Disha (name changed), Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) changed their policy to allow women to carry pepper spray from December 3.
Hyderabad followed Bengaluru to allow women to carry pepper spray. Earlier Metros, similar to airports, didn’t let pepper spray, considering it as a security hazard. The decision to allow pepper spray in Bengaluru Metro came after four men raped and murdered the Hyderabad’s veterinary doctor.
Managing Director of HMRL NVS Reddy said, “For the safety of women, we have decided to allow pepper spray. Our security personnel at Metro stations have been informed of the same.”
The issue of pepper spray not being allowed in Metro came to light after a public policy researcher from Bengaluru took to Twitter asking why security personnel are confiscating pepper sprays from women.
Are these arbitrary decisions taken by security staff or is it a BMRCL rule? Will your staff take responsibility for the safety of women commuters when they make them exit the stations after disarming them with the one self-defense option they had at their disposal?
— Rakshith S Ponnathpur | ರಕ್ಷಿತ್ (@rsponnathpur) December 1, 2019
Hyderabad police had also issued safety advisories to women, after Disha’s death.
