This gripping story highlights the safety challenges women face at night by recounting a sting operation led by V. Sumathi, IPS, the Malkajgiri Police Commissioner in Hyderabad. Dressed as a common traveler and waiting alone at a bus stand after midnight, she was approached by over 40 men in just three hours, many of whom subjected her to harassment and indecent proposals. Unbeknownst to the harassers—who included students, IT professionals, and intoxicated individuals—the area was surrounded by plainclothes officers who swooped in as soon as she gave the signal. The operation not only led to the immediate apprehension and counseling of the offenders but also shed a powerful light on the vulnerability of women in public spaces, earning the brave officer widespread acclaim for her hands-on approach to law enforcement and social safety.
