Key Takeaways:
- Karnataka Women’s Commission has asked Bengaluru City Police for an urgent report on measures to protect women during New Year’s Eve.
- Request demands details of deployment, safe travel arrangements and directives to local officers within two days.
- Bengaluru women’s safety on New Year’s Eve remains a priority after reports of voyeuristic media coverage in previous years.
- Police say a comprehensive plan is in place, including women officers, help desks and traffic restrictions on key stretches.
The Karnataka State Commission for Women has sought an urgent report from the Bengaluru City Police detailing the security measures in place to protect women during New Year’s Eve celebrations. In a letter dated 29 December 2025, Commission chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhury asked the police to set out steps being taken at celebration venues and to ensure safe travel for women returning home.
Commission seeks details on Bengaluru women’s safety on New Year’s Eve
The Commission emphasised that large crowds, including many women and girls, are expected across the city on the night of 31 December and urged the Police Commissioner to provide the requested information within two days. It also asked that clear directions be issued to jurisdictional officers to prevent any security lapses and to ensure a coordinated response at key celebration sites.
Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh had earlier said on 26 December that a comprehensive security plan was in place for New Year’s Eve. Measures include the deployment of women police personnel in significant numbers, separate help desks and toilet facilities for women at celebration venues, and instructions for residents to alert local police immediately if they witness harassment or disorderly behaviour.
Traffic diversions and movement restrictions will be enforced along stretches known for heavy footfall and nightlife, including MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Indiranagar and Koramangala. The police have also outlined plans to manage crowd movement and public transport to reduce risks for those travelling late at night.
The Commission’s request follows growing concern about media conduct during past New Year’s celebrations. Reports over the last two years observed that some local television crews pursued and filmed women and couples on crowded streets, contributing to an atmosphere of discomfort and undermining safety. The Commission has asked the police to consider such patterns when framing their operational orders and to take steps to prevent intrusive reporting that may endanger or embarrass women.
Officials say the objective of the report is to ensure that public celebrations do not compromise personal safety. The Commission’s demand for a quick turnaround aims to give sufficient time for any additional directives to be issued to ground-level officers and for contingency measures to be refined before festivities begin.
Community groups and civic volunteers have been encouraged to co-operate with police plans and to use designated help desks should they require assistance. The police have emphasised vigilance and prompt reporting, advising the public to call local control rooms if they observe harassment or threatening behaviour.
While authorities stress that arrangements are intended to be proactive, the Commission’s intervention reflects a precautionary approach given the scale of expected gatherings. By insisting on a formal report and swift instructions to jurisdictional officers, the Karnataka State Commission for Women aims to ensure that the city’s New Year celebrations remain festive and safe for all attendees.
