Letters to The Editor — September 30, 2026

Recent reports in The Hindu of minor girls being molested and assaulted (September 22, 24, 25 and 28), along with other reported incidents, raise deeply troubling concerns about the continuing insecurity faced by women and girls in modern India. It is noteworthy that the top court has taken suo motu cognisance of grave cases of assault in the National Capital Region (Page 1, September 29). Women’s safety must never be compromised. It is a matter of national dignity and a basic test of democracy. This is not merely about criticising one government or turning individual incidents into political arguments. It reflects a wider failure of society, which takes pride in its culture and traditions but still struggles to ensure women’s safety. There ought to be a dedicated women’s safety police force across India, with strong representation of women officers, whose primary responsibility would be to protect women.