A series of controversial posters allegedly backed by the Ahmedabad traffic police have sparked widespread outrage for promoting sexist and victim-blaming messages, advising women to stay indoors to avoid rape.
The posters, spotted in Sola and Chandlodia areas, carried disturbing warnings such as: “Do not attend late night parties, you could be raped or gangraped,” and “Do not go with your friend to dark, isolated areas, what if she is raped or gangraped?” The banners bore the name of Satarkta Group, an NGO run by a local journalist, and listed Ahmedabad traffic police as a sponsor.
Following public uproar, traffic police officials disowned the campaign, stating they had no knowledge of the messages being posted.
Neeta Desai, DCP (Traffic West), said, “We had approved posters on road safety, not these indecent ones. They were put up without our consent and were taken down immediately.”
Additional CP N.N. Chaudhary backed the claim, stressing the language used was never approved. ACP (Traffic Admin) Shailesh Modi confirmed the NGO was granted permission solely for a traffic awareness initiative in schools and colleges.
The sexist tone and victim-blaming nature of the posters have drawn criticism from citizens and activists alike, who accused the authorities of promoting fear instead of ensuring women’s safety.
The incident has reignited the debate on responsible public messaging and the need for gender-sensitive communication.