Two North East Sisters Molested by 25 Men at Delhi

Police Refused to Lodge Complaint

New Delhi, January 7, 2008 (North East Support Centre & Helpline)

25 men molested two north east sisters at Gandhi Vihar, New Delhi on January 5. They along with their young brother were severely beaten by culprits after molestation. Timapur police station refused to lodge First Information Report (FIR). Fact Finding Team of NE Support Centre & Helpline rushed to the spot to extend the help and gave trauma counseling to the victims.

Incident happened while 18 year old Priya (name changed) younger sister doing coaching for Medical Entrance, was returning back from near by vegetable market at around 7:30 PM, two men, one of them is Chinky from same locality, followed her and passed vulgar comments on her.

Priya told her 20 years old sister Manju (name changed) who runs a cyber cab on lease and reported her of what has happened. While both the sisters were inside the cyber cab along with their 17 years old brother, Chinky and his friend continued to tease them by passing lewd comments on them. Both the sisters kept ignoring them, but Chinky and his friend continued to abuse them, then Manju out of shame and frustration slapped on the face of Chinky. Chinky and his friend threaten both the sisters and left the place.

Chinky sent a group of 25 men around 9.30 PM and molested and beaten both the sisters and their young brothers. Both sisters and boy suffer injuries on face, hand and bleeding on leg.

Immediately one boy from North East who witnessed the incident rang up to NE Support Centre & Helpline and instruction were given to ring up to Police Helpline 100. Police cops came after 30 minutes after the incident and later they were called to Timapur police station.

Victims told NE Support Centre & Helpline that their complaints were not taken by police officer on duty, rather girls were told to identity the culprits then FIR will be registered. Police did not have women police when the victims were taken to Timapur police station and no medical treatment was provided to the injured victims.

The Fact Finding Team have sought to approach higher authorities to book the accused. When police have not taken the complaint, victim had to seek help from media. Victim told NE Support Centre & Helpline that police has scolded them for informing to media.

Manju came from Indo-Myanmar boarder called Moreh. After completing her Graduation Science runs a cyber cab in Gandhi Vihar on lease to support her sister and brother who are pursuing for Medical studies and later for technological study.

North East Girls in Delhi & NCR Continues to suffer

On December 23, NE Support Centre & Helpline was reported that a girl from Manipur working as a receptionist in a private company was molested by her boss in the office.

A minor NE girl in Gurgaon still suffers after she was molested three times in last December by house owner. Police initially reputed to take the complaint, but molestation charges is registered against the house owner after approaching Commission Police Gurgaon, but till the filing of this report, accused is still roaming free and personal belongs to the victim are still under the custody of the house owner.

Nearly 50% of sexual assault happens in Delhi and NCR has happened to the girls from North East India. North East Support Centre sees it as serious concern for the safety of the community from North East India.

The finding of NE Support Centre & Helpline is that the main reason behind targeting north east people in Delhi and NCR is the mindset of people. “The north east people are citizen of India, should not treated differently because they look different” In most of the cases, police do not take complaint at first approach; police duty officers had to wait until flashed and instruction from higher police.