‘Take stock of regulations to ensure safety of women in pre-paid cabs’

The Bombay High Court on Monday asked the state government to take stock of regulations framed to ensure the safety of women traveling alone in pre-paid taxis. The court was hearing the proceedings in the death confirmation case pertaining to two taxi drivers who raped and murdered a BPO employee from Pune in 2007.

A Division Bench of Justices V M Kanade and P D Kode observed that apart from private companies, the services of pre-paid taxis are availed by many women who travel alone. The court said many tourists also use the pre-paid cab services from the airport.

"If a tourist takes a pre-paid taxi from airport to Panvel, there could so many secluded spots on the way," Justice Kanade said. "In such cases, pre-paid taxi is not enough to ensure safety, especially of women traveling alone," he added.

Pushottam Borale (26) and Pradeep Kokade (20) had picked up the victim from her home in Pashan at around10.15 pm on November 1, 2007 in a car sent through the pick-up service engaged by her employer. She was on her way to the office at Hinjewadi on the night shift from 11 pm to 9 am. However, the accused duo allegedly abducted her and took her to Guhane village near Maval where they raped and then killed the victim by strangulating her with her dupatta, smashing her head with a stone and slashing her wrist with a blade.

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