Kolkata: The Kolkata Police will now even file defamation cases against bus and truck owners if obscene or derogatory posters or pictures — which can hurt sentiments of any gender, caste or creed — are pasted on their vehicles. The police have also asked citizens to click on and send such derogatory messages if they come across them so that the police can take action. The Vidyasagar Guard, along with the Garia Guard, on Sunday came across two trucks with derogatory remarks against women. Both the drivers were asked to cover them. “We may start with auto drivers, but the law applies to everyone,” said another CP. “Such an openly provocative statement can be considered defamation in the eyes of the law, attracting punishment under Sections 499 IPC and 356(i) BNS,” said a police officer in Lalbazar, explaining that this also includes defamation. The police station opened a healthy debate on the Kolkata Facebook page, where officers had initially informed netizens about taking such a step against motorists. While some welcomed the police action, others wondered what would constitute defamation and whether something that is written ‘offensively’ on a T-shirt could be considered defamatory in law. While officers did not respond to the queries, they said they would soon create more awareness about the issue. “The fact that it has become a talking point is important,” said an officer. The police station was initially put up on Friday evening. “The offensive car sticker caught the attention of one of our colleagues when he came across it while on duty. To begin with, he felt that there was malice and misogyny behind the apparent joke made against women, stating that snakes can be believed but women cannot,” the report said. Officers said they could have taken legal action. “However, we thought of approaching the owner of the vehicle first and appealing to his better judgment. ‘Because by making such a general and negative statement, wasn’t he also belittling the women in his own family? We discussed it with him,” the report said, adding that the officers explained the matter to the car’s owner, who then removed the sticker himself.

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