The Swathi murder case has prompted a proposal to set up a grievance website for women who fall victim to sexual harassment, cyber crimes and other criminal attacks.

The proposal was put forward by advocate Harishankar Krishnathulasi from Erode who earlier came forward to provide assistance in the murder case, and made his intention public through a Facebook post.

“In response to my idea, software professional Gopalakrishnan has offered help develop a website in which women can register complaints and share their grievances, while maintaining anonymity,” said Krishnathulasi.

It will be manned by advocates including women lawyers, police officers, other government officials and experts, who will guide the victims and advise them on specific legal remedies.

“Sometimes women or young girls cannot share some incidents or happenings even with their family for fear of causing anxiety. But by registering a complaint in the website, they will get professional help and even counselling without revealing their identity.”

The advocate is now in talks with officers and advocates to launch the website as soon as possible.

“Advocates have a lot of scope to discharge social responsibilities,” said advocate Krishnathulasi, who had pledged his support to bring about justice in a case that was crushed by apathy and slackness from the very beginning.

A bleeding Swathi was left to die on the platform of a busy railway station in Chennai’s Nungambakkam on Friday, after being hacked by an alleged stalker while she was waiting for her train to work. Those who witnessed the gruesome attack on the 24-year-old Infosys employee did nothing, and police said many quickly left the spot by taking the next train.

“Hundreds of people were simply mute spectators that day, and did nothing to stop a lone attacker,” he rued.

“As the case can be only represented by a public prosecutor, I have expressed my wish to assist him,” said Krishnathulasi, who is a keen social media activist.

The advocate said he can help prepare documents by using precedents and case studies, file written arguments in the court, and convince witnesses to come forward.

“But if Swathi’s family needs a special counsel to represent them under a provision in the Criminal Procedure Code, and if the court agrees, then I can fight the case for them without charging any fee,” he said.

Advocate Krishnathulasi said the family is yet to respond to his offer as they are yet to recover from the shock and trauma.