Simran was taking her dog Jojo to a nearby park for his nightly walk. She usually walked to the park via a deserted inner lane as a shortcut. That night, as she entered the lane, a man passed her in the opposite direction. As she continued walking down the lane, something made her glance back. The man who had passed her earlier had doubled back and was walking towards her. Feeling uneasy, she hurried to the end of the lane out on to the main road leading to the park where some people were waiting at a bus stop. Although nothing happened, Simran trusted her instincts which told her something was not quite right.

Crimes against women are rising steadily. According to recent government statistics, a woman is raped in India every 32 minutes. All of us would like to think that it could not happen to us. In reality, there is no way to be completely sure that you will always be safe. However, there are some rules you can follow to minimise your chances of being attacked.

Be aware of your surroundings

Attackers usually do not choose their victims at random. A perpetrator will often stalk his victim for a period of time and make a note of her movements and habits. Also, an assailant prefers to choose a victim who appears distracted since he has a greater chance of taking her by surprise.

When you are walking on the road or towards a vehicle, focus on your surroundings and the people around you. Make a note if you see someone watching you closely or following you. This person could be up to no good. Many times, a perpetrator will abandon his plans if he knows you are aware of him. This is because you would then be able to identify him if you get away.

Avoid being alone

Staying in a crowd or with a group of people can greatly minimise your chances of being attacked. A potential assailant is more likely to leave you alone if there are people in the vicinity. Not only will these people come to your aid if you are attacked, but also each one of them is a potential witness to a crime.

Avoid using a deserted or poorly lit lane as a shortcut and use the main road instead. This is especially important when you are travelling at night. You may find it inconvenient but remember that it will go a long way towards ensuring your safety. Whenever possible, try to have a friend escort you home if it is late. Otherwise, consider spending the night at your friend's place after a party and go home in the morning.

Make wise decisions

If someone approaches you with the intention of causing you harm, you can either confront your attacker or run away. However, it is up to you to decide the best course of action. If you plan to run away, calculate how far you will have to go in order to escape from your attacker or seek help. If the distance is large, there is a greater possibility that your attacker will be able to catch up with you before you reach a safe location, especially if you are wearing footwear like high heels.

If running away is impossible, you may have no other option except to stand your ground. In such a situation, you may have to fight in order to free yourself. This does not mean an all-out brawl with your attacker. Focus on incapacitating your assailant for long enough so that you can escape and seek help. Areas like the throat, groin, and eyes are the most vulnerable spots on the human body.

Grab attention

When someone attempts to assault you, the first thing he will do is to threaten to hurt or kill you if you call for help. If you obey him, you are playing right into his hands. If someone grabs or holds you, immediately start screaming at the top of your voice. This will get people passing by to look up and notice what is happening. Then they can come to your aid.

You may be attacked at any place and at any time. Follow the scout's motto and always be prepared. Your vigilance is the most important aspect that could keep you from harm.