New Delhi: Two women from the northeast were allegedly molested and assaulted in the heart of the nation’s Capital on Sunday.
Though no arrest has been made so far, four people have been identified as suspects involved with the incident, which took place near Eros Hotel in Nehru Place, southeast Delhi.
Multiple police teams have been formed, and raids are underway at locations to arrest the accused, DCP (Southeast) Hemant Tiwari said.
Police said a team rushed to the area after a PCR call was received at Kalkaji police station around 7 am on May 10, and found the two women at a tea stall near Eros Hotel.
In their statements to police, the women claimed they were having tea at the stall when they were catcalled by two men.
“The victims claimed that when they objected, the men made derogatory remarks and verbally abused them. A couple of more men joined the argument,” a police officer said.
The argument turned violent, with the women complaining to police that they were racially abused, molested and hit with bamboo sticks when they tried to get away.
The duo was taken to AIIMS Hospital for medical examination.
Based on their complaint, a case was registered at Kalkaji police station under sections 115(2), 74, 126(2), 351(2), 78 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
As part of the investigation, police examined CCTV footage from nearby areas and identified eight witnesses and passersby who were close to the incident spot. On questioning those eight persons, four main accused in the case were identified.
This isn’t the first time women from the northeast faced racial abuse and discrimination in Delhi.
Last February, three women from Arunachal Pradesh were allegedly racially and verbally abused in Malviya Nagar by a couple, their neighbours.
A purported video of the incident, shared widely on social media platforms, showed the accused woman saying that her husband is the “son of a politician.” The woman was also heard saying that they (northeast trio) are “Rs 500 mein massage parlour mein kaam karne wali dhandewali (sex workers who work at massage parlours for Rs 500)”.
