Bengaluru: Karnataka is grappling with a surge in sexual harassment cases, with an average of 15 cases reported daily in the first two months of 2025, sparking growing concerns over women’s safety in the state.

Data from the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB), cited by The New Indian Express on Tuesday, reveals that 901 sexual harassment cases and 78 eve-teasing incidents were registered between January and February this year.

Despite the high number of reported incidents, conviction rates remain alarmingly low. In 2024, 6,319 sexual harassment cases were filed, yet only nine resulted in convictions. A staggering 3,908 cases are still under trial, 1,734 are under investigation, and 45 cases remain untraced.

Women’s rights activist K.S. Vimala, from Janawadi Mahila Sanghatane, has expressed concern that the actual number of such incidents could be much higher, as many cases go unreported due to social stigma, fear, and a lack of trust in the police and legal systems. “Even when women go to file complaints, police respond insensitively. Victims would be discouraged by asking why they were out at night or why they were alone,” TNIE report quoted Vimala as saying.

She also pointed out that women face risks not only at night but during the day as well. She called for increased police patrols and the installation of CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas as preventive measures.

Furthermore, Vimala criticised the State Women’s Commission for not doing enough to raise awareness and take proactive steps to improve women’s safety. She asserted that the low conviction rate sends the wrong message to society and called for more comprehensive action to combat sexual harassment in the state.