New Delhi: High-tech companies in India's technology hub of Bangalore are stepping up security for their female employees after the rape and murder of a 24-year-old woman by a call centre taxi driver.
Police say the woman, who worked for US technology giant Hewlett Packard, was killed in the early hours of Tuesday. The woman had been missing for the past three days before her body was discovered in the outskirts of Bangalore on Friday.
Hewlett Packard, have however refused to comment. All they are saying is that they condemn the incident and will cooperate with the police.
In the wake of the incident, the company has decided to send security guards to escort women employees to and from the office.
Voicing his concern over the murder, Nasscom President Kiran Karnik has said that he will continue to hold dialogues with police for a "conducive environment" for women in the city.
The case has shocked Bangalore, which is home to more than 1,500 domestic and foreign technology firms and raised concerns about the safety of female professionals working the late night shift at the city's numerous call centres.
The murder has set alarm bells ringing across the country as well, especially cities where the call centre industry operates.
With the number of complaints against drivers of vehicles on contract with call centres rising, the Gurgaon police is planning to start a training programme for them in collaboration with the BPOs.
Already, several call centres in Gurgaon have a come up with various measures to ensure staff safety.
Most of the firms hire cabs from reputed companies and conduct tough screening of drivers like checking their licence and residence proof.
Women are never the first on a pick-up list or the last to be dropped and wireless sets and mobiles have been placed in all cabs to keep a track of its whereabouts.
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