Attending late-night parties could invite rape or gang rape: Alarming posters sponsored by Ahmedabad traffic police face backlash

Ahmedabad traffic police faced backlash and raised questions about accountability and judgement when posters in big, bold letters were put up across the city, TOI reported.

These posters on 'women's safety' read: 'Attending late-night parties could invite rape or gang rape'. ‘Do not take your friend to dark, isolated areas. What if there is a rape or gang rape?'

The sexist, alarming and fear-mongering posters in Gujarati were seen plastered on dividers in areas like Sola and Chandlodia, with several of them carrying the name of a group called ‘Satarkta', and mentioning Ahmedabad traffic police as a sponsor.


Police officers including Neeta Desai, DCP (Traffic West) and Shailesh Modi, ACP (Traffic Admin) told TOI that permission was granted to Satarkta to put up posters "for traffic awareness".

However, when the content went viral on social media, leading to backlash, police distanced themselves from the controversy. "The posters have now been removed," said Modi, admitting they appeared "indecent".

Additional Commissioner of Police (traffic), N N Chaudhary, also clarified that Satarkta Group, which is reportedly run by a local scribe, was allowed to put up traffic awareness posters but not messages with threats of sexual violence. "We never approved such language. It is unacceptable," he said.

Meanwhile, citizens said the posters were clearly alarming.