Two women, who were on their way back home from Noida, alleged that they were sexually assaulted by a man near Sector 24 on the night of Monday, 27 August, and no immediate action was taken by the police despite reaching out to the nearest check-post.
The women – Banhishikha Banerjee and Sreya Chatterjee – said the police refrained from taking prompt measures, but took cognisance of the case once one of them posted the incident on social media. However, they said the late response resulted in the accused fleeing the spot.
Speaking to The Quint, Sreya Chatterjee – a journalist, said the accused could have been caught if the police had acted immediately. She also alleged that the constable in-charge, Govind, was initially apprehensive of taking any action, and said that filing a case would be a “hopeless attempt to find the culprit”.
Chatterjee told The Quint:
After reaching the nearby police check-post, Constable Govind wasted 20 minutes on a futile discussion that we cannot be made to sit inside the police van as there was no female constable present. On our way to the police station, he again wasted time after stopping the van to greet a group of men who appeared to be drunk.Sreya Chatterjee, one of the complainants
She added that once they resumed the journey towards the police station, the group of men whom the constable greeted “whistled” at the two women.
There were no CCTV cameras in the area. It will be very difficult to trace him now. This also shows the futile steps taken by the authorities to ensure women safety.
The other woman, Banhishikha Banerjee said they tried filming the incident but the video wasn’t clear for lack of light.
‘We Were Made to Write Complaints in Hindi’
On arriving at the police station in Sector 24, Noida, Sreya Chatterjee also alleged that the constable told them to write the complaint in Hindi. After a brief argument over it, Chatterjee took to social media to post about the alleged harassment.
Nearly four hours after the incident, and within an hour of her posting on the incident on Facebook and Twitter, the police replied to Chatterjee’s post that an FIR has been lodged.
Chatterjee also filed a second complaint against Constable Govind, alleging negligence. In another post on Facebook, she wrote that following her complaint, he was relieved of his duties.
‘CM Yogi Looking into the Matter’
In her second post, Chatterjee also mentioned that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had taken cognisance of the case and that the probe had made progress.
“ADG Law and Order, UP responds to the incident promising immediate arrest of the culprit. He says he is constantly in touch with the investigating team,” she wrote on Facebook.
Chatterjee also added that Union Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi, had responded to the incident and promised to look into the matter.
Chatterjee, however, told The Quint that her case gained importance only because she was a journalist.
I feel the only reason I am getting such a response from the CM and the Union Minister is because I am journalist. There are no CCTV cameras installed in the area where the incident took place. That simply shows how serious they are about women safety. Such an investigation wouldn’t have been required if prior steps had been taken.Sreya, one of the complainants
The Quint tried reaching out to the Station House Officer (SHO), Pankaj, for his comments.
This story will be updated if and when we receive a response.
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