A 23-year-old Architecture student of Jamia Millia Islamia had to undergo the ordeal of fighting an inebriated rickshaw-puller, who allegedly molested her. The trauma faced by the woman was shared by her on Facebook where she claimed that despite calling on the police helpline for 45 minutes, no one turned up and she had to drag the rickshaw-puller to a police chowki where she thrashed him with a wooden stick and left for home.
The woman, identified as Sumaiya claimed that she was molested by a rickshaw-puller who appeared drunk outside New Delhi Metro station (Ajmeri Gate side) on Thursday night.
Sumaiya later took to Facebook where she posted about the incident. According to her, the incident took place outside the New Delhi Metro station.
She claimed that she had de-boarded at the New Delhi Metro station since she had to go to Paharganj. Sumaiya asked the rickshaw-puller whether he would drop her to Paharganj but he demanded Rs 200.
She further claimed that she realised that he was drunk, and started walking ahead. However, he followed her and asked her to come with him, she added. She hit him with a water bottle which she was carrying and managed to drag him to the beat officer’s room to the nearest police post.
She said the post was latched from outside and there was no police personnel around. When she called on the helpline numbers of the Delhi Police, she was told that the force would be sent to help her but she claimed that no one came while she waited at the police post along with some locals. She also claimed that the rickshaw-puller kept mocking her and saying that no one would come to help her.
Exasperated girl was left with no other option than to drag the molester to police post where no policeman was found. She then picked up a wooden stick and thrashed him black and blue until he pleaded for mercy. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Madhur Verma replied to her on Twitter saying that the matter would be looked into.
Police have registered a case in the matter and two policemen -an Assistant Sub-Inspector and a Head Constable -- have been suspended over the call going unanswered.
Police said the room where the woman took the rickshaw-puller to was the beat officer’s room where they take rest in between patrolling.
In a reply to her post, Verma wrote, “Have spoken to the complainant... Action is being taken on her complaint by the Central district police. With regard to the absence of staff in the police post, matter is being enquired. Strict action will be taken for the negligence”.