Friday 7 December 2012

Thank you for not helping!

By "Safe Delhi" i.dream.of.safe.delhi@gmail.com
4th dec 2012. 7.30 pm. AIIMS metro station, gate no. 3. Right in between two of the busiest hospitals in Delhi. I was coming back from a happy day. Delhi metro, one of the safer modes of transport in Delhi (relativity to their advantage).


Got up on the escalator at the exit, there's nobody around me or behind me, but it seems ok. As I'm going up I can see a man's face at the other end of the escalator, he is standing at the escalator's ramp, off the escalator, so only his face is visible right now. He looks at me like how most men in Delhi do, the way that makes me want to punch them. Then he looks around quickly and starts staring at me again. By this time I can see his torso too and by the way he is looking at me, I can make out that something's wrong.

He looks like a midle-aged man, average build, slightly overweight, dusky. He looks in one direction, like he's looking at someone, and looks back at me.

The escalator goes up, he is masturbating. With his genitals out of his pants. He is standing there at the station exit, facing me, in his woolen cap(white-grey), sleeveless sweater(white grey) over a shirt (light blue) and grey trousers with the zip unfastened. He is rubbing his genitals and has a poly bag, the kinds typically patients or relatives carry (look like they have some papers and reports in them by the shape - flat and square). He is looking straight at me. It takes me a second to understand it. I know there's nobody on the stairs/escalator behind me, so I know shouting won’t help except it will make him run away and there would be nothing done about it. I quickly reach into my bag to take out my phone, so that I could capture him or call the cops in case he tries to attack me. He understands what that could mean for him and gets in a frenzy. Almost like he never expected this to happen. Before I could get hold of my cell, he takes off. I run after him, only to lose him in the traffic (I saw him cross to the aiims hospital side). I look at the side of the station where I thought he was looking. I see two men sitting on the railing and looking at me. They looked like they were watching everything happen.

There were so many people there on the main road, a little distance away. He was just facing the other direction and he thought he could do something like that. I felt unsafe. I looked around to find any policeman/guard/ security official. Anyone. Couldn't find anyone. I walked towards my home as I have, at times, seen a PCR van standing outside the gate. It wasn't there. I turned back once to go back to the metro station hoping to see what could be done but I felt too unsafe to go back alone.

I reached home at 7.40 pm. As soon as I reached home I rushed to my room and called the women's helpline (1091), around 7.42 or 7.43pm.
A female voice answered. I asked them "hello, kya me ek sexual harassment ka case yahan report kar sakti hu?".
Police officer- "hanji bataiye".
Me- "me abhi abhi aiims metro station se nikal rahi thi, ek aadmi waha khada mujhe dekhte hue masturbate kar raha tha".
Police Officer- "madam aap us hi waqt waha khade khade report karte to hum kuch karte na".
Me- "haan, par wo to waise bhi bhaag gaya".
Police Officer (rudely) - "to bataiye ab kaha kaha dhundegi police usse".
Me- "dhund to nahi payegi par kya ise report...
Police Officer - (yelling)- "madam ye 100 number se connected number hai, police ka number hai."
Me- "acha to aisa kuch hone par me kaha report kar sakti hu.........
No response. I realized she had already disconnected after her statement.

Whatever happened to ‘ with you, for you, always ‘ ?? Is this helpline just a mere formality ? What action will be taken against this man ? I am trying every method known to me. With the help of an NGO I have sent letters to the Delhi Police ( The Commissioner, Crime against women cell, Hauz Khas police station ( as AIIMS is under their Jurisdiction ), Delhi Metro. They keep on telling us to speak up. But where? how? Every night there are discussions on TV about women’s safety, is it all talk ? Will it ever translate into action ? Many questions, hope a few get answered.

4 comments:

  1. Sick!!
    Scary...
    N have seen it happen too!
    Wish there was something I could do too. They suggest.. Bhool Jaiyye..maamuli baatein hain..

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  2. yes, those who stand up and never counted...and those who sit are always told to stand up...its bloody idiotic...

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  3. So strong is the outrage and the commitment to bring about change that a group of like - minded individuals have conceptualized, designed and gone live with an online network 'safecity' in less than a week. This exactly deals with reporting and pinning such incidences around us..Urge to read more @ http://www.webopower.com/citizen-activism-to-make-our-cities-safer/ and spread the word to your friends and family

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  4. Hi,

    Painful to read your horrific experience. I am an attorney and is filing a PIL on safety and security of women across India. Your such experience will add more fuel to my resolve to make India and Delhi in particular safe and secure for women.
    In cases of legal help, you can reach us at office@bhartiassociates.com

    ReplyDelete