This Singapore woman should be India's new role model in dealing with creeps on Metro
Creeps on public transport are a dime a dozen. For women, it is an everyday struggle to either "avoid", "deal with it", or "just ignore" the fact that some creepy person is "stalking" them with that male gaze. Of course, not everyone puts up with that.
Enter, Uma Mageswari. A resident of Singapore, who encountered a creep on Metro train. On Saturday, May 13, while travelling from Outram station to Harbourfront in Singapore, Uma was seated in a fairly empty coach. Perhaps taking advantage of this, the man took out his phone and started recording a video of her. He, smart person that he was, stared at his phone screen as if watching something on it. But alas, simple physics became his fall.
Reflected on the window behind him, Uma could clearly see that his phone camera was on, and it was recording her. Uma decided to fight fire with fire. She started recoding him as well. After a while she confronted the man and reported him to the cops.
She did not stop at that.
Naming and shaming creeps is very essential, and she did just that. The video she posted on Facebook, has now been shared 40,496 times and has 9 million views.
In her post, she wrote:
This is a video that I had recorded on 13th May 2017 Saturday at 7.40pm a minute or so after I had boarded the train at Outram MRT. I was heading towards Harbourfront to meet a friend. This guy quickly plonked himself on the seat opposite mine though it wasn't as if the train was crowded and he had to race to get a seat. I was seated in the 2-seater located at the far ends of the carriage. He then proceeded to whip out his phone and I think the rest speaks for itself once you view the video.
The dumbass didn't realise his folly obviously. I made my own recording of him but understandably lost my temper afterwards when confronting him over his actions. The MRT staff was most helpful and the SPF arrived at the scene within minutes. Upon further investigation this chap was found to be in possession of similar videos though I am told they were rather obscene in nature of unsuspecting victims.
This man's name is Suraj. This as*hole holds an employment pass. He had a range of excuses for his deplorable actions. His last feeble attempt of an apology was that “I was like his sister”.
I am highlighting this episode to the public in general to serve as a deterrent for other such assholes. Please always remain aware of your surroundings and never be afraid to speak out against such acts that may be committed against you or others around you.
You don't have to be a victim of your circumstances. Ever.
When the policemen at the station confronted the man, who Uma claims is called Suraj, and checked the contents of his phone, they found him in possession of a lot of similar videos. Guess, this wasn't his first day of being a creep? The man allegedly even resorted to a feeble excuse like trying to pretend he's like a brother to her. Guess, Asaram Bapu's tactics don't work the other way round as well.
Uma's actions took down one creep, but sadly there are more like him. The only way they all should be dealt with is giving them a taste of their own medicine.
Kudos, Uma!