City boys get cops to nab molester in Delhi
Rafique Moiz and Suyash Joshi, law students of Nirma University, were returning from Jantar Mantar protests on Saturday when they saw a hapless 16-year-old girl weeping after being molested by a drunk bus conductor
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, January 02, 2013 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013010220130102030425331b015924/City-boys-get-cops-to-nab-molester-in-Delhi.html
It was the timely intervention of two Amdavadi boys that ensured the arrest of a bus conductor who molested a 16-year-old in Delhi on Saturday night, the day the death of a 23-year-old gang-rape victim sparked widespread protests nationwide.
Rafique Moiz and Suyash Joshi, eighth semester law students of Nirma University, were returning from Jantar Mantar protests when they saw the hapless victim near Mandi House picket.
The boys were in Delhi last month for their academic internship and had decided to join the protests to demand death penalty for the accused of December 16 gangrape, strong anti-rape laws and fast-track courts to deal with rape cases.
Moiz and Suyash find Ahmedabad much safer than Delhi
THE INCIDENT
When the boys were passing by the Mandi House checkpost, they saw a bus parked there and three men — a driver and two conductors — standing outside, one of them asking for directions from the policemen on duty.
One of the conductors was in an inebriated condition and was speaking to somebody on his cellphone. The visibly traumatised girl stood at a distance weeping helplessly, but none of the cops bothered to ask her what was wrong.
Suyash and Rafique, both 21, learnt from the patrolling cops that the driver who wanted to go towards Lajpat Nagar had lost his way due to security arrangements and had stopped by to ask for directions.
The boys approached the girl who initially appeared too scared to talk. With help from a woman protester who happened to pass from there, they managed to get the victim talking.
“We were appalled to learn from her that an off-duty bus conductor had been drinking and molesting her even as another conductor and a driver were present in the vehicle. What was more disturbing was that there were four or five cops at the checkpost and none of them cared to find out why the girl was crying.
She was so young and it just did not occur to them that she might be in need of help. We sought help from a woman who offered the girl her shawl and a glass of water to make her feel comfortable,” said Moiz.
‘DELHI COPS ARE NOT FORTHCOMING’
The victim narrated her ordeal recalling that she had boarded the bus from Khayala and was on her way to a woman’s centre in Lajpat Nagar as she was often mistreated by her stepmother and brothers. When she boarded the bus there were around 12 passengers inside.
But they all got down one by one. Even when she was being molested by the off-duty conductor, the conductor and driver did not stop him, she has stated in the FIR.
“The cops were not very forthcoming when we informed them about the matter. We had to drop names to get them to act. They took us, the driver, the conductor, the accused and the girl to Barakhamba police station where an FIR was registered.
No woman constable was present at the station when the girl was brought in. It was only when the investigating officer sent her for a medical examination that a woman cop accompanied her,” said Suyash.
‘WILL GO TO DELHI WHENEVER CALLED’
Acase of molestation, criminal intimidation and outraging a woman’s modesty have been registered against accused Ranjit Singh. He has been sent to judicial custody till January 11.
Suyash and Moiz have been named as eyewitnesses in the FIR. “If we are required to go to Delhi during the proceedings, we will surely go. The accused must be punished,” said Moiz.
‘OUR CITY SAFER BECAUSE OF PROHIBITION’
The boys wrote an email to the university officials describing the matter, but “nobody has acknowledged the mail”. They say Ahmedabad is “one lakh times better” than Delhi, thanks to prohibition.
“Usually such incidents take place when the accused is under the influence of alcohol. It is good that Gujarat has prohibition in place. Our girls are much safer. Also our cops are more sensitive towards people,”said Suyash.
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, January 02, 2013 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013010220130102030425331b015924/City-boys-get-cops-to-nab-molester-in-Delhi.html
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| Rafique Moiz and Suyash Joshi |
Rafique Moiz and Suyash Joshi, eighth semester law students of Nirma University, were returning from Jantar Mantar protests when they saw the hapless victim near Mandi House picket.
The boys were in Delhi last month for their academic internship and had decided to join the protests to demand death penalty for the accused of December 16 gangrape, strong anti-rape laws and fast-track courts to deal with rape cases.
Moiz and Suyash find Ahmedabad much safer than Delhi
THE INCIDENT
When the boys were passing by the Mandi House checkpost, they saw a bus parked there and three men — a driver and two conductors — standing outside, one of them asking for directions from the policemen on duty.
One of the conductors was in an inebriated condition and was speaking to somebody on his cellphone. The visibly traumatised girl stood at a distance weeping helplessly, but none of the cops bothered to ask her what was wrong.
Suyash and Rafique, both 21, learnt from the patrolling cops that the driver who wanted to go towards Lajpat Nagar had lost his way due to security arrangements and had stopped by to ask for directions.
The boys approached the girl who initially appeared too scared to talk. With help from a woman protester who happened to pass from there, they managed to get the victim talking.
“We were appalled to learn from her that an off-duty bus conductor had been drinking and molesting her even as another conductor and a driver were present in the vehicle. What was more disturbing was that there were four or five cops at the checkpost and none of them cared to find out why the girl was crying.
She was so young and it just did not occur to them that she might be in need of help. We sought help from a woman who offered the girl her shawl and a glass of water to make her feel comfortable,” said Moiz.
‘DELHI COPS ARE NOT FORTHCOMING’
The victim narrated her ordeal recalling that she had boarded the bus from Khayala and was on her way to a woman’s centre in Lajpat Nagar as she was often mistreated by her stepmother and brothers. When she boarded the bus there were around 12 passengers inside.
But they all got down one by one. Even when she was being molested by the off-duty conductor, the conductor and driver did not stop him, she has stated in the FIR.
“The cops were not very forthcoming when we informed them about the matter. We had to drop names to get them to act. They took us, the driver, the conductor, the accused and the girl to Barakhamba police station where an FIR was registered.
No woman constable was present at the station when the girl was brought in. It was only when the investigating officer sent her for a medical examination that a woman cop accompanied her,” said Suyash.
‘WILL GO TO DELHI WHENEVER CALLED’
Acase of molestation, criminal intimidation and outraging a woman’s modesty have been registered against accused Ranjit Singh. He has been sent to judicial custody till January 11.
Suyash and Moiz have been named as eyewitnesses in the FIR. “If we are required to go to Delhi during the proceedings, we will surely go. The accused must be punished,” said Moiz.
‘OUR CITY SAFER BECAUSE OF PROHIBITION’
The boys wrote an email to the university officials describing the matter, but “nobody has acknowledged the mail”. They say Ahmedabad is “one lakh times better” than Delhi, thanks to prohibition.
“Usually such incidents take place when the accused is under the influence of alcohol. It is good that Gujarat has prohibition in place. Our girls are much safer. Also our cops are more sensitive towards people,”said Suyash.
