Personal safety in Bangalore?

Slinky

I am an experienced traveller but have never made it to India...until now. Coming over to work in Bangalore very soon and was just wondering how safe it was there (and Chennai & Kerala) from a pickpocketing / mugging point of view.
Also, is it legal to carry a walking stick or any form of personal protection...I am a passivist & also an experienced martial artist and once had to use a stick to fight off 3 guy who were trying to do something nasty to another lady traveller.

Any advice much appreciated...Cheers

steven_ber

After leaving a bar in Bangalore, a few too many to drink, had a game of hide & seek with my hotel.

Going along a virtually deserted road I suddenly felt vulnerable, there was a big group at the next corner, I just decided to be brave, but they looked like savages.

I thought back to something I'd read on the internet, I managed to find a load of stones and started to throw them, not aiming direct at them, more just to frighten them, thankfully it worked.

About an hour later I found my hotel.

True story, however, the group were dogs, the 4-legged type (well, some only had 3 legs).

I've never felt threatened by people whilst travelling in India.

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jarman_ah

Slinky, just as a matter of interest, where did you use your stick on those three guys?

I don't think you have much to worry about in Bangalore, or in India generally (that said, I have to admit that I have only ever been to India once, and only two days of this was spent in Bangalore). I felt as least as safe walking the streets in every city in India as I do in my home town (Sydney, Australia). My wife got a bit tired of being leered at, but that's as far as it went.... and now she's back home, she misses the attention, so I have to make her feel wanted by giving her the occasional "Indian leer"!

I wouldn't carry a weapon, as you may be tempted to use it, eventually, against the three million "touts" that are beside you virtually every step of the way wherever you travel! If you're generally worried, carry a whistle instead; day or night, you will never be more than twenty-five metres from ten thousand people.

bijapuri

been visiting, living, studying and working in BLR on and off since 1970, and have never, ever, even remotely felt unsafe.

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sudheer poppa

I think Bangalore is as safe as it gets in India. For its population the crime rate is surprisingly low. Not too sure why organised crime has spared this city so far ?

Is it the efficient police work ? Dont know

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Digital Drifter

ah, Sudheer, sarcasm is hard on the 'net! bangalore's biggest crimes in no particular order

1. chain snatching
2. hit & run traffic accidents
3. random robbing of Software techies who're too drunk/stupid to realise it's /not/ a good idea to carry a loaded wallet or got to an ATM which is quite deserted close to midnight.

All others are generally mafiaso types; land/loan sharks, city council contract scandals, the full end to end enterprise binge.

sadhuji

let us take note of dd's observations - after all he lives there.

soulfood

Another recent discussion on this topic: Safe for Single Woman in Bangalore???

Karma Queen

i spent 2 months in bangalore last year, and felt very safe. i am a young female, and got a rickshaw by myself to work every day. no probs. also felt safe at night. never encountered any problems. didn't go out alone at night mind, but then i wouldn't here either.

Slinky

Thank you all for the great advise
Sounds like B'lore will be a walk in the park
By the way sadhuji, in answer to your question : one of the gentlemen concerned had pushed the young lady to the ground and was leaning over her so I poked him in the butt and then did my impression of a top loader washing machine on acid - waving my little stick around and making loud grunting and whooping noises Very few people stick around after that one...in fact they ran away faster than a speeding bullet stuck in the arse of a bat out of hell.

Works every time

Cheers guys...this forum rocks!

umber

omg does this happen alot?

kaushiks

Slinky, Please tell us where you learnt it. It can be very useful. You should organize coaching classes for the publc. You will make good friends and also contribute.

soulfood

Relax! Don't think Slinky was recounting that experience from India.

deepak.sriram

Hi,

Personal safety is ones own responsibility. 100% policing is a myth. Mental alertness and gut feel should help you in most cases.
Carrying a self defence pepper spray would be a bonus.
You can pick it up at Health & Glow retail outlets in Bangalore and most other indian cities.
The product is called "Cobra Pepper Spray"

Happy travelling...

Cheers
Deepak

mary10

India is fairly safe as far as crimes with body-injury is concerned and direct mugging is not very common (after all, there are too many people everywhere to bear witness!). Doesn't mean there are no crimes. Only means that you don't feel unsafe in general and crimes take place in a different format in India, often more hidden.
You are adviced to keep a real eye on common crimes that Indians too take precautions for;

1. Traveling in trains, lock your luggage to seats with a chain (there are hooks underneath the seats)
2. Dont take eatables from strangers; it's well known in India that gangs of people put sedatives in drink and food with intentions to rob people (happens quite often, especially on trains/buses)
3. Traveling in buses, keep an eye on your belongings. I've had several friends been stolen of valuables during travels in India. For city buses, pay attention if people 'crowd' you; it can be a means to distract you by pick-pockets.
4. Don't count money in public view, or display any major bundles of money in view
5. Travling at night, pay attention to where your driver takes you. Be also a bit cautious if they bring a second friend with them.
6. Be a bit cautious of people who are too eager to make friends with you, without any particular reason. (I had a friend who got his entire flat robbed completely from a group of new 'friends' he made over the span of 3 months)
7. Don't - DO NOT - get entangelled in 'helping' someone with visas abroad, work abroad, business ventures and what not. I have seen nothing but complete tragedies come out of such efforts. You will be approached by many who will come with all sorts of offers to involve you in business, or some way or the other convince you to find work for them. And they can be patient and work on your friendship for months and months before their real intentions comes to light.