In the latest blow to safety measures for women in metros and public places, a 29-year-old Delhi-based woman has alleged that a man harassed her by flashing and masturbating in front of her, as she was climbing down an escalator, at the busy Huda City Centre Metro Station complex, Gurugram on June 14.
The shocked woman did not get any prompt help from the Gurugram police, even though she had approached them through Facebook Messenger. It was only after she reached out to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) officials, that everyone jumped into action. The police have now contacted her and she was asked to identify the culprit on CCTV.
She is however yet to decide whether she wants to file an FIR or not as she fears her safety.
An official from DMRC, requesting anonymity, confirmed that the DMRC had provided assistance to the woman after she approached them.
As per sources, the incident happened after she de-boarded at the metro station, went to a clothing store for a while and then was coming down the escalator to leave the station premises.
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She was visiting a friend in Gurugram and after exiting the store, while she was climbing down the escalator, she felt that someone was following her. On turning back, she realised that a man was masturbating on her. Traumatised, she raised an alarm, confronted and slapped him. The indecent culprit flashed at her again and hurled abuses.
There was no policeman around and the passers-by also did not help, being just mere spectators. After committing the disturbing act, the culprit ran away. Unfortunately, the police chowki outside the station was closed.
Gurugram police spokesperson Subhash Boken said, “After taking cognizance of the woman’s complaint on Twitter, an official from Metro police station had reached out to her and asked her to file a written complaint with the police as it was a legal formality.”
The woman has questioned women safety in metros and stations via twitter.