A tea break at a roadside stall in Delhi turned terrifying for two women from the North-East, as a verbal altercation over being taunted escalated into physical assault and racist abuse. The two women claimed their clothes were torn, they were beaten with bamboo sticks and faced racist abuse by a group of men near a tea stall on Sunday morning, after they objected to shouting.
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The incident was reported in Nehru Place area of southeast Delhi, police said, adding that four people have been identified in the case and raids are being conducted to arrest them.
The incident occurred around 6.30 am on May 10 near a tea stall outside the hotel. A PCR call regarding the incident was received at Kalkaji police station at around 7 am, following which local police teams rushed to the spot and found the two women there.
A senior police officer was quoted as saying, “The initial investigation revealed that the women were subjected to insulting words and abuse by a group of men, which later escalated into a physical altercation.”
Fighting, arguing, followed by violence
The women claimed they were having tea outside the hotel when two men started attacking them. They were soon joined by several other people, leading to an argument that later turned violent.
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One of the complainants claimed that she was harassed during the incident and that her clothes were torn. The women also claimed that the accused directed racist remarks at them, the officer said.
One of the women also claimed that she was attacked with a bamboo stick while trying to leave the place. The accused also allegedly blocked their way and threatened them with consequences if they revealed the incident.
The accused was identified and the case was filed
The two women were taken to AIIMS for medical examination and a case was registered at Kalkaji police station under Sections 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 74 (assault with criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 126 (2) (wrongful restraint), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation), 78 (stalking) and 3 (5) (common intention) of the BNS. Police said the investigation into the case is ongoing.
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The women told the police that they would be able to identify the accused if they appeared before them. CCTV footage from nearby areas is also being scanned, and several witnesses and bystanders who were present during the incident have been identified and questioned.
The police said that during the investigation, eight people, including witnesses and passers-by, were arrested and interrogated, following which four main defendants involved in the incident were identified.
Multiple police teams have been formed, and raids are being conducted on locations linked to the accused to arrest them. Police said no one has been arrested yet.
