‘Don’t Party, Avoid Rape’: Posters Advising Women To ‘Stay Indoors’ Spark Outrage In Ahmedabad
DCP (Traffic West) Neeta Desai and ACP (Traffic Admin) Shailesh Modi confirmed the posters were put up without proper content approval.
Posters cautioning women that attending late-night gatherings or going into isolated places could “lead to rape or gangrape” have sparked widespread anger in Ahmedabad, prompting their immediate removal and a formal apology from senior police officers.
The contentious posters, which appeared in different areas of the city, carried alarming messages like “Going to a late-night party can invite rape or gangrape” and “Do not go with friends to dark and deserted areas, you may be raped or gangraped.” The tone and wording were quickly criticised by women’s rights groups and local citizens, who accused authorities of blaming women instead of targeting perpetrators.
Once the images of these posters started circulating on social media, triggering severe backlash, the police acted swiftly to take them down. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic West) Neeta Desai and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Traffic Admin) Shailesh Modi acknowledged that the posters had not been thoroughly reviewed before installation. They said the messages were part of a traffic and safety awareness drive proposed by an organisation named ‘Satarkata’, and claimed they were unaware of the exact wording used.
“We never authorised such language,” said ACP (Traffic) N.N. Chaudhary in a firm statement.
Despite their removal, the posters left many Ahmedabad residents furious, particularly women, who felt that the messaging reflected a regressive attitude that shifts the blame for sexual violence onto the victims. Bhoomi Patel, a resident of Ghatlodia, said, “These kinds of warnings hold women responsible, whereas the accountability lies with the system.”
A fitness coach from Bodakdev termed the campaign a form of “moral policing” that trivialises the real issue of women’s safety.
Women from various parts of the city expressed dismay, stating that such messages reinforce a mindset that burdens women with ensuring their own safety, while failing to hold institutions accountable. A woman from Nehru Nagar said, “These posters reflect a victim-blaming mentality that excuses lapses in the system meant to protect us.”