PRESS RELEASE
New Delhi, the 21st November, 2012
Two North East girls harassed in Delhi: The accused forcibly knocked the victim’s door for one-and-a-half month
Two North East girls have been continuously harassed by a 25-year-old man here in Munirka early this morning. Both the victims and the accused stayed in same building, H/No. 205-F, First Floor, Munirka. The accused, Arvind Pandey, a warehouse manager in Kapashera, has forcibly knocked the victims’ door and demanded to open the door early this morning at 1.15am.
According to the information reaching to North East Support Centre and Helpline, the accused harassed the two young North East girls for the past one and a half month. The accused used to keep flowers, letters and chocolates inside the victims’ room (through a small space under the door). The victim also informed the NESC Helpline that the accused used to bolt their door from outside and many times they sought help to open the door from domestic workers of their houseowner.
“This morning Arvind Pandey came again and knocked our doors at 1.15 am. I was so scared that I did not open the door. I requested him not to repeat again and stop harassing me every night, but he never listened to me at all. I warned him that I will call the police, even then he insisted me to call them. I was helpless so much so that I informed our landlord, instead of helping me, I was being told to vacate the room. So I call up the police and informed the matter,” told one of the victims to NESC Helpline.
The North East Support Centre and Helpline (NESCH) fact finding team led by founding member Dr Alana Golmei visited the victims at their residence in Munirka this morning at 9am.
In one of the letters written by Arvind Pandey, says: “Can we have talk on phone” with a written phone number “9582151453”.
“Some time when I rang up this number, it was switched off. One day I got the line and he said he was not,” one of the victims told NESC Helpline fact finding team today.
With the help of North East Support Centre and Helpline, the victims lodged a complaint in Vasant Visant Police Station today. The accused, Arvind Pandey (25) S/o Raghunath Pandey of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh was arrested by the police. The police registered a case against the accused under section (u/s) 107/151 of CRPC [DD No. 13A, dated 21-11-2012]. The victims demanded preventive action should be taken by the police.
Both the victims were from Manipur, an aspiring air hostess, who came to Delhi to fulfill their dreams. They underwent three-month training course in air hostess. Now both are waiting their interview results, expecting to get job in airline industry.
“It is very sad that our girls are becoming soft targets in the city. They are simply harassed and the landlords often ignored their plights at any crucial moment. The Police must also take action against the landlord,” Dr. Alana Golmei expressed.
Dr Golmei appeals to the concern authority to give full security and protection to the Northeast community especially the young girls who have come here to pursue their careers. This kind of harassment discourages and disturbs our girls in achieving their dreams.
The North East Support Centre and Helpline expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Shri Anil Sharma, Station House Officer (SHO), Vasant Vihar Police Station for taking up the matter seriously and arresting the culprit immediately.
North East Support Centre & Helpline (www.nehelpline.net) is combined initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists, and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to women, North East People, and tribal communities of different states.
Released by
Bruce K. Thangkhal
Media Incharge