An untoward incident can happen to anyone at any moment. You may be walking home from somewhere when suddenly, you become the victim of a crime. A teenager in Salt Lake, Kolkata, displayed an exemplary presence of mind and taught her attackers a lesson they’ll never forget.
The teenage girl was returning home on April 18, from the Sports Authority of India complex, where she trains in judo for two hours each day. Bijoy Das and four minor boys allegedly passed lewd comments at her.
Initially, the girl ignored them, but the gang allegedly molested her and tried to drag her to a dark, deserted area. Unfortunately for the gang, the girl happened to hold a blue belt in judo. She fought back bravely, and hit her attackers, managing to escape and reach home safely.
Back home, she told her father, a priest at a local temple, about the incident. The father returned to the spot, and found the gang, and asked them why they had harassed his daughter. The unscrupulous gang members assaulted the poor priest, raining blows on him before running away.
The father lodged a complaint with the Bidhannagar South Police Station, where authorities swung into action and picked up all five molesters from their houses.
According to Amit Jalvagi, Deputy Commissioner, Headquarters, Bidhannagar Commissionerate, in The Telegraph, the gang members were regular offenders, who harassed women every evening. The girl’s neighbour, told The Telegraph, that the gang took advantage of the dark stretch devoid of street lights to indulge in anti-social activities.
Thanks to the efforts of the girl and her father, the accused were produced before a juvenile board on Tuesday and sent to an observation home. They will be presented before the board again. Bijoy Das, the only adult among the accused, was taken to court at Barasat and will remain in judicial custody till April 30.