"Such Incidents Happen”—But They Shouldn’t. Not in Any City

On April 3, around 1:52 am, two women were walking through Bengaluru's BTM Layout when an unidentified man began following them. Within seconds, he groped one of the women and ran away, disappearing into the darkness. The CCTV footage of the assault quickly circulated online, sparking public outrage. But what made the headlines burn brighter was not just the violence; it was Karnataka's Home Minister G Parameshwara's statament: "Such incidents happen in big cities." That one sentence echoed a mindset that has long enabled and normalised harassment in India, and it's time we call it out.

The Minister's Remark and Its Impact

Just as the public was processing the horror of what had occurred, Karnataka's Home Minister G Parameshwara offered a response that many saw as dismissive: "Such incidents happen in big cities. We will take action as per the law... Police are working continuously round-the-clock, ignoring rain and cold. That is why there is peace in Bengaluru."

Parameshwara added that he regularly instructs the police commissioner that they have to be alert and that the monitoring should be enhanced. "I tell him that patrolling should happen in every area in a disciplined and effective way. We take action as per the law. The beat system has to be made very effective. That is the reason that I directed the police commissioner about it," he said, according to The Hindu.

The minister's statement received widespread flak, as many believed that he reduced an act of assault to an urban inevitability. The comment sparked backlash, particularly among women who feel such statements normalise the everyday violence they endure. It raised an uncomfortable question: If those in power see violence as routine, what hope is there for change?

Response To Backlash

G Parameshwara reacted to the backlash he received for his statement on the sexual assault case. "I have provided many programs for women's safety, including the Nirbhaya project in the state. We have implemented the Nirbhaya project grants more than any other state in the country. It is not right to distort a statement and insult me. I have taken many strict measures to protect women. I believe that women should be protected. I regret if the mothers of the country are hurt," he said, according to the Asian News International.

The Need for Political Responsibility

Words matter, especially when they come from those in power. The Home Minister's statement should have condemned the act, reassured the public, and outlined actionable steps. Instead, it served as a reminder of how low the bar is set for leadership in gender-related issues. Accountability starts with language and is followed through with action, swifter investigations, better street lighting, more patrolling, and most importantly, a shift in mindset.

The Culture of Dismissing Women's Safety

India has long struggled with gender-based violence, but the deeper issue lies in how institutions and leaders respond to it. Too often, the burden of safety is shifted onto women: don't go out late, don't wear certain clothes, don't walk alone. Meanwhile, the real problem, a culture that excuses or trivialises the actions of perpetrators, goes largely unaddressed.

Saying that something happens everywhere doesn't neutralize its impact; it reinforces complacency. By accepting harassment as part of city life, we perpetuate a system where women are expected to adapt to fear rather than demand change. This mindset emboldens perpetrators, who count on a lack of consequences. Worse, it creates a society where women's pain becomes background noise.

Urban Spaces That Exclude Women

Despite rapid urban development, many Indian cities remain unfriendly to women. Poor lighting, inadequate policing, and limited public transport options after dark are just the surface of the issue. Women navigate these environments with caution, not freedom. The BTM incident reflects this systemic failure to consider women as equal stakeholders in public spaces.

While CCTV footage of such incidents can lead to arrests or public awareness, it also raises ethical concerns. The visual becomes viral, but the trauma is real and lasting for the victims. Surveillance should be a means to an end, justice and prevention, not a replacement for it. Too often, the presence of cameras replaces proactive measures that could have prevented the act in the first place.

A Culture Shift Is Overdue

Women don't want to feel brave just for walking home. They want safety to be a given, not a privilege. And while one minister's words cannot speak for an entire system, they can certainly reflect it. This case is not just about one night in Bengaluru, it's about what we choose to accept as normal. We need a culture where safety isn't negotiable and where no one ever says, "it happens" again.

Views expressed by the author are their own.