An Agra-based journalist, Damini Mahaur, was home from work at 8 pm on January 25 when two drunk men on a motorcycle began stalking her.
Mahaur is a new anchor at one of Uttar Pradesh’s largest cable networks Den News.
The two men first made gestures at her, which she ignored. They then attempted to talk to her. Mahaur changed her route to lose them, but they continued to stalk her. In a Facebook post, she wrote, “I tried to take pictures of the bike’s number plate but the pillion rider said that it was fake. He even posed for the picture. There was no fear or shame on the youth’s face.”
On reaching home, she called the women’s helpline number ‘1090’. She narrated her story and checked if a complaint was registered against the stalkers. Even after four days, it wasn’t.
In her elaborate Facebook post, Mahaur expressed her disappointment at the police. “These young men have no fear of the police. If they are teasing someone today, they will rape another tomorrow. When the girl’s life will be destroyed, politicians will burn candles in solidarity and the so-called female helpline of the police and the government will do nothing.
Mahaur’s post was widespread on social media. Subsequently, the Agra Police took action.
आगरा पुलिस ने महिला का पीछा कर भद्दे कमेंट करने की शिकायत पर त्वरित कार्यवाही करते हुए दो अभियुक्तों को गिरफ्तार किया।@Uppolice @dgpup @adgzoneagra @igrangeagra @upcoprahul @navsekera @amitpathak09 @sengarlive @NBTLucknow @itsshobhit pic.twitter.com/p4n6e2mvty
— AGRA POLICE (@agrapolice) January 29, 2018
They registered her complaint and arrested her harassers under Section 354D (stalking) of the IPC.
The Logical Indian community commends Damini Mahaur for pursuing her molesters. Lawlessness in Uttar Pradesh seems to have taken the driver’s seat and lack of police response in such times is troubling. This could have been another one of those cases of molestation that we hear about, then forget. Had Mahaur not shown the will to bring the perpetrators to justice, they would be roaming scott-free. We urge police authorities to respond to citizens’ distress calls on time and take away the impunity criminals believe they have.
