India: Man Arrested For Sexually Harassing Journalist Renuka Nagarajan; CFWIJ Reasserts Need For Safer Public Spaces
Location: India, Chennai
Date: February 21, 2022
On Wednesday, the police arrested 23-year-old Lakshmanan for harassing digital journalist Renuka Nagarajan. The incident took place in the ladies compartment of the public train system while Renuka was traveling alone. The accused reportedly flashed her and proceeded to publicly masturbate in front of her. He managed to escape at the time when Renuka tried to publicly confront him.
Renuka Nagarajan was harassed on February 9, when boarded the local train at 9.40 pm IST from the Nungambakkam railway station. The accused, Lakshmanan, who is reportedly a resident of Meenambakkam, entered the women’s compartment, took a seat in front of Renuka and masturbated in front of her. The journalist recorded the incident to present as proof for a subsequent complaint, however, expecting a confrontation, the man fled the train at the Chrompet railway station.
Renuka filed an official complaint with the St Thomas Mount railway police and a case was registered under Section 354-A (Sexual harassment and punishment for Sexual Harassment) of the Indian Penal Code. According to Section 354-A:
A man committing any of the following acts-
(i) physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures; or
(ii) a demand or request for sexual favours; or
(iii) showing pornography against the will of a woman; or
(iv) making sexually coloured remarks, shall be guilty of the offence of sexual harassment.
The accused was eventually arrested on February 16 at Chrompet and was handed over to the Tambaram railway police. He looks at a heavy fine or jail time which could extend to three years if convicted.
While the Coalition For Women In Journalism appreciates the immediate steps taken in the case, we would like to reassert that these are not isolated incidents. Public spaces are increasingly hostile for women, specially during the night and there needs to be structural change beyond policing to address these concerns.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.
