SHE Teams apprehend 644 for harassment during Bonalu festival in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: During the Bonalu festival, SHE Teams intensified efforts to ensure women's safety at public events across the city. A total of 644 individuals, including 552 adults and 92 minors, were apprehended for harassment, including eve-teasing and other inappropriate behavior.

In response to the offenses, five individuals were sentenced to seven days of imprisonment by a special court under Section 70(c) of the Hyderabad City Police Act.

 Safety Tips from SHE Teams:

• Stay alert in public places.
• Report misbehavior by calling 100/112 or message via WhatsApp at 94906 16555.
• Be cautious of fake online profiles.
• Avoid oversharing on social media.
• Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication.

Public safety campaigns also continued, urging the public to report any form of harassment for swift action.

Earlier, in July, during the Bonalu and Moharram festivals, SHE Teams conducted heightened operations to safeguard women at public gatherings. A total of 478 individuals, including 386 adults and 92 minors, were caught for misbehavior or harassment. Of those, 288 were let off with warnings, while four were booked under petty cases, leading to fines totaling ₹1,050. Five court convictions followed, with one person sentenced to imprisonment and others fined.

In total, 124 awareness programs were conducted, and 1,405 surveillance checks were carried out. Additionally, 352 campaigns were organized using audio-visual vehicles to raise awareness. Key locations, such as the Golconda Bonalu, Balkampet Yellamma Temple, and Ujjaini Mahankali Temple in Secunderabad, saw special deployments of 14 SHE Teams to monitor public safety. Several individuals were caught harassing women at these sites. The public is urged to remain vigilant and report harassment immediately to ensure swift action.