Video of Women Fighting off Harassers Shocks India
Source: abcNEWS
A video showing two sisters in northern India hitting back at men who allegedly harassed them on a crowded bus has drawn huge attention in a country where hundreds of thousands of women silently endure sexual harassment daily.
The video, filmed by a passenger and aired on several television channels Monday, shows the two young women hitting, punching and beating their harassers with a belt, as other passengers silently look on. The women, identified only by their first names, Arati and Pooja, said they lashed out at the men after enduring lewd comments and pawing from them.
"One of the boys started touching my sister and making kissing gestures," Arati told reporters. "I told him to go away or I would teach him a lesson. Then he called another boy saying that we have to beat up two girls. And then the other boy got on the bus."
The sisters said that no one on the bus tried to help them. Instead, other passengers told them to not provoke the men, because they might later attack them or throw acid on them.
Press Trust of India reported that the video was shot Friday as the sisters were on their way to college.
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/video-women-fighting-off-harassers-shocks-india-27273768
irisblue
(32,969 posts)Ptah
(33,024 posts)cosmicone
(11,014 posts)As the video clip provoked a flood of reactions on social media, it was after two days, late on Sunday night, that the police said all three, Kuldeep, Mohit and Deepak, had been arrested.
The men, all from one village, were going to join the army. "There is no place for such men in the Indian army," said Army Sources, indicating that their application might be rejected.
The sisters allege that the men's families tried to pressure them into dropping the police complaint. "They told our father - change the statement - they are about to join the army...their lives will be ruined. What about our lives? Can men like these protect our country?" said Pooja.
For their feisty act in a state notorious for crimes against women, the sisters will be felicitated by Chief Minister ML Khattar on Republic Day and will receive Rs. 31,000 each. Their bigger reward is an order that the police and transport department should ensure women's safety.
The driver and conductor of the bus have been suspended.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cheat-sheet/men-who-harassed-rohtak-sisters-have-no-place-in-army-10-updates-628185
SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)Warpy
(111,249 posts)because the other passengers were right, they will be targets.
It's also obvious that young women in India are in desperate need of some self defense classes.
Still, it was enough to discourage those three cowardly assholes.
cosmicone
(11,014 posts)They are celebrities now and will be paraded as heros by all powerful politicians.
As an Indian American, I am shamed by the conduct of the fellow bus passengers. If I was there, I'd have acted and stopped those three jerks.
Warpy
(111,249 posts)People not wanting to confront bullies happens here in the US, too.
Liberal_in_LA
(44,397 posts)NickB79
(19,233 posts)Just because they are viewed as heros and celebrities by many, doesn't make them untouchable by some.
Plenty of heros have been assassinated by lone nuts over the years, unfortunately.
cosmicone
(11,014 posts)There is no united organization of harassers exists or that is going to come after the girls.
Already the jerks' families were begging the girls' parents to not press charges.
Seems like direct action is the only way to achieve results.
Android3.14
(5,402 posts)Kick those boy-children's asses.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)tclambert
(11,085 posts)JI7
(89,247 posts)cosmicone
(11,014 posts)did not intervene. That is what has made people so mad.