New Delhi: A journalist from this newspaper on Monday night fought off her molester single-handedly after she was groped at the ITO Metro station, which is 50 meters away from the police headquarters.
Her repeated cries for help failed to catch the attention of CISF officials who were giving duty, a mere 200 metres away from the spot.
The investigating officer visited the victim’s workplace on Tuesday and an FIR was lodged under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of Indian Penal Code.
The incident took place at around 9.30 pm when the journalist stepped inside the metro station on Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg. The molester touched her inappropriately at her back.
When she confronted him, he first said sorry, came near her and groped her. When she reprimanded him, he attacked her and escaped.
When the CCTV footage was verified by the police, the molester was seen following and attacking the journalist. The woman didn’t take a back seat and chased her molester till the main road until he vanished into the dark.
According to her, by the time she could come back, the CISF officials who were on duty came to spot and enquired about the incident. Upon questioning, she narrated the chain of sequences following which she was taken to the control room.
However, to her dismay, she was made to sit for over one-and-half-hours to raise the complaint.
“I was taken to the control room where I was made to sit for more than 90 minutes to record my statement as the concerned authority had yet to come from the Yamuna Bank metro police station,” the irate scribe said.
She said, “The CISF officials checked the CCTV footage where the police learnt that the entire incident had been captured on two cameras. Based on the same, the complaint was raised bythe investigating officer.”
DCP (metro) Pankaj Kumar Singh assured her appropriate action would be taken as the case was being taken up on a priority.
What is surprising is the fact that from entry point till the paid security check-in area, not a single policemen, metro staff or CISF personnel is posted on about 200 meter stretch inside the metro station. Thus, leaving the corridor prone to miscreants easy access inside the station.
