Some thoughts on Swathi – & the aftermath

by R.K. Raghavan – A former CBI Director

Swathy, the young and sprightly IT-professional of Chennai, allegedly slain by an infatuated neighbour a few weeks ago, has touched the raw nerve of this hallowed city. Coming so soon after a series of murders, Swathy’s confirms that the city is no longer a haven of peace and safety. In a manner of speaking, it has hurt my ego more than any other event of the recent past. I am extremely proud of my native city. But this is not the city that I grew up in and used to adore. Also, this certainly was not a ‘one swallow does not make a summer’ case. Many violent crimes against innocent citizens have marred its reputation.

Without sounding alarmist, I now regretfully look upon Chennai as a dangerous place to live in, not merely for the reckless and couldn’t-care-less modern female professional, who considers it her divine right to roam about in pursuit of evening entertainment. The sedate and usually conservative inhabitant will also have to take more than usual care while moving about or visiting public places. It is irrelevant that Swathi was murdered in broad daylight on a busy railway platform. It is equally immaterial that the Chennai Police was able to nab the offender in quick time. The attack on the young woman is as symbolic as Nirbhaya of Delhi, and teaches us many lessons on personal security.

The happening proves once again that you cannot depend on the police or fellow citizens to protect you. A woman will have to defend herself through personal protective measures like karate, pepper stray, etc. This may not be very effective, but is better than expecting law enforcement of officials or the public around you to come to your rescue from an aggressor. The police cannot be present everywhere. What is appalling is the rapidly diminishing fear of the police. The system has become so corroded because of corruption at all levels.

Chennai has grown too large for our comfort. It is a happening city that attracts a wide spectrum of population from different parts of the country. This trend certainly makes it more cosmopolitan and less laid-back. But, at what cost? I do not for a moment suggest that the upsurge of bodily crime is entirely due to new arrivals from outside the State. It is nevertheless a factor that distracts and overburdens the police, and makes prevention of crime more complex.

The growing distrust of the police has led to a phenomenal opportunity for private security agencies. Let us not delude ourselves into believing that this has sorted out the problem of domestic security. Far from it. The guards provided by these agencies are a laughable collection of young men (a few women as well), who have no clue of what they are expected to do. They are mostly untrained and always underpaid. A majority are from the east and northeast of the country with no knowledge of the local language, topography or modes of living. There is a Central Government legislation on private security, which prescribes minimum standards. I am not very sure that the personnel whom we see in Chennai are anywhere near those standards. If you are in an apartment block, you and other residents should take the initiative to collectively train the guards allotted to your building and exercise strict supervision over their performance.

The police often advise you against hiring a servant without checking his or her credentials. This is good advice, but it is advice that does not carry you very far. Background checks by non-professional and poorly compensated agencies are a farce. Most of the checks provide you wrong data that is dangerously misleading.

The practice of hiring a living-in servant is growing. It may be convenient if you are old or have old parents to care for. But this has its perils in terms of security. There are many cases of living-in servants themselves committing horrific crime, or helping criminals with vital data on the lay-out of your residence and on the value of movable assets (including cash and jewellery). My advice is that you should not have a living-in servant, unless there are compelling reasons.

In the final analysis, security is a grim and serious business. Your personal safety, and that of your family, is much more important than that of your wealth. Just recall the case of a few days ago, when a teacher met her death, recklessly chasing on a two-wheeler- an individual who had sprinted away with the cash she had just drawn late that evening. Impulse and safety do not always go together. This applies also to handling an intruder inside your house. Tact and not direct confrontation is the formula that usually works. It may not save your belongings. It will certainly protect you from bodily harm.

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