A student journalist from Chennai’s Asian College of Journalism took to Twitter to share an incident that would make any woman travelling via public transport uncomfortable.
The woman, Ishita Singh, alleged that her Uber autorickshaw driver sexually assaulted her by pressing her right breast when she was stepping out of the vehicle, reported NDTV.
The incident occurred on Sunday night when she was returning to a hotel in the city along with a friend.
I’m a student journalist at @ACJIndia, Chennai.
An @Uber Auto driver named Selvam ,sexually assaulted me by pressing my right breast, near Ibis OMR Hotel, when my friend and I returned from East Coast Madras to the hotel.@PoliceTamilnadu pic.twitter.com/jJMhx4zk5j— Ishita Singh (@IshitaS05978134) September 25, 2022
Ishita immediately raised an alarm after the incident by screaming and also tried to stop the auto but the driver escaped. What happened next highlights the sheer apathy of some of our police officials.
The incident occurred while my friend was making the payment and I was stepping out of the auto. To fight back, I screamed.We also tried to stop him but somehow he managed to escape. I immediately called the police but there was no response. @mkstalin @vijaypnpa_ips
— Ishita Singh (@IshitaS05978134) September 25, 2022
When the police finally arrived after the two waited for 30 minutes, they claimed that the girls would have to wait till the next morning to file an FIR as there was no lady officer in the station. What should a woman do in case of a similar incident late into the night?
After waiting for 30 mins, an inspector along with a man came to the hotel to investigate. He asked us to wait till the morning to file an FIR , as there was NO lady officer at the station. “It’s an order by the government” he said, when asked about the lady officer. pic.twitter.com/zvXlkeUKFY
— Ishita Singh (@IshitaS05978134) September 25, 2022
The girls were also not allowed to enter the police station to file an FIR, as women are not allowed inside the police station at night.
He was also not letting us go to the police station to file an offline FIR. But we still managed to go to the Semmencherry Police Station, along with two hotel employees. Also, the station in charge did not let us enter the police station as women are NOT allowed during night.
— Ishita Singh (@IshitaS05978134) September 25, 2022
So they had to file a complaint, not an FIR, outside the station on a sheet of paper.
I had to file the complaint outside the station. Also, the station incharge gave us an A4 sheet to write an application instead of an FIR. (Usually, the Police ask you to file an application instead of an FIR, to suppress the matter and to avoid the work load). @vijaypnpa_ips pic.twitter.com/3JsifnjeVB
— Ishita Singh (@IshitaS05978134) September 25, 2022
I’ve been asked to visit the Lady Police Officer today post 9 A.M. (they also denied sharing her number with us). As of now I’ve filed an online FIR. @whl181 @NCWIndia
— Ishita Singh (@IshitaS05978134) September 25, 2022
The details of the auto driver are as mentioned :-
Full Name – Selvam Gothandam.
Transaction id on PhonePay- (t2209252223415079516216 selvam.G14@ybl , icici bank)
Uber Number : (+91443579307) @PoliceTamilnadu @vijaypnpa_ips pic.twitter.com/5Vps0mhJur— Ishita Singh (@IshitaS05978134) September 25, 2022
The auto driver’s actions, if found guilty, are punishable offences under the Indian Penal Code. To think that the man believed that he could get away with such a disgusting act is nauseating.
As per the evidences, he’s punishable under section 354 and 506 of IPC. It was so traumatic that my friend and I still cannot process it. The fact that he had the audacity to ‘smirk’ while I was screaming at him.I don’t think I can ever forget his face. @ACJIndia
— Ishita Singh (@IshitaS05978134) September 25, 2022
Ishita’s tweets went viral as hundreds of people began sharing the Twitter thread and demanded action from Uber and the police. Certain political parties too made visits to the police station to ensure swift action
Aam Aadmi Party Tamil Nadu team and women wing secretary Ms Stella Mary visited respective Police station. The accused has not been arrested and the investigation is ongoing, police said. We are escalating the matter to Comissioner office for proper investigation and action. pic.twitter.com/qU19ngucLn
— Aam Aadmi Party TamilNadu (@AAPTN) September 26, 2022
Finally, the autorickshaw driver was arrested and his vehicle was seized by the Tambaram City Police.
Update – The accused’s auto and CCTV footage was seized by the @COPTBM, following his arrest, yesterday night.
I thank @COPTBM @tnpoliceoffl, DCP Joshua, ACP Sudarshan, ACP Riazuddin and Srinivasan for taking the necessary actions.
I also thank @ACJIndia for their cooperation.— Ishita Singh (@IshitaS05978134) September 27, 2022
Even in today’s day, women cannot travel via public transport without fearing that they might be sexually assaulted or harassed. When will this stop?