Mysore/Mysuru: Stating that the number of fraudsters who mislead girl students and women on the promise of jobs and friendship are on the rise, City Police Commissioner B. Ramesh cautioned girl students against believing the fraudsters and falling prey to them.

He was speaking after inaugurating an awareness programme on the subject ‘ Atrocities against women and children’ organised by Devaraja Sub-division Police as part of Crime Prevention Month at MMC&RI Platinum Jubilee Hall at J.K.Grounds here on Thursday.

Stating that atrocities against women and children are on the rise these days, Ramesh said that this apart, instances where school and college girl students are misguided too are on the rise, which has raised an alarm in the society. Stressing on the need for teachers and parents to educate their wards on matters concerning job and friendship assurances, he said that girl students must be educated on what is Good touch and Bad touch.

Pointing out that girl students must be extra careful against bad elements, the Police Commissioner warned that miscreants will be lurking to lure teenage girls with false assurances.

Recalling an incident when he was serving at Chintamani 14 years ago, where a 14-year old girl kidnap case was lodged, Ramesh said investigations revealed that the girl was in Delhi. Soon he and his staff raided the place, when it was discovered that there were about 10 girls from Karnataka at the spot including the kidnapped Chintamani girl. When the girl was enquired about the incident, she said that some of the girls were brought from the homes of their lovers and were sold, while the rest were sold on the promise of highly paid jobs. Citing a few such other incidents, the Police Commissioner said that teenaged girls should be extra cautious against miscreants or misleading people.

Expressing concern against rising violence and atrocities against women, Ramesh said, however, things seems to have changed in the past 20 years as the status of women has improved over the years.

Highlighting the various modes and means of crime, the Police Commissioner said that with advent of technology, crimes such as economic offences, cyber crimes, cheating, sexual abuse, domestic violence etc., too are on the rise. As such, the Police are organising the Crime Prevention Month in order to create public awareness on various means and modes of crimes, with focus on crimes against women and children, he said and sought the co-operation of the public for crime prevention and detection.

Resource persons Shwetha and Hemalatha delivered a talk on actrocities against women.    DCPs M. Muthuraj and Geetha Prasanna and Devaraja ACP M.N. Shashidhar were present.