Juvenile among three held for harassing, groping Japanese woman on Holi in Delhi
Three people, including a juvenile, were apprehended for allegedly harassing and groping a Japanese woman here on Holi, police said on Saturday.
A video of the incident, which went viral on social media, showed a group of youths smearing colour on the woman, who appeared uncomfortable. It also showed one of them smashing an egg on her head.
Though the woman did not lodge a complaint, the police have taken cognisance of the video.
The video was shot on March 8, when Holi was celebrated, in Paharganj area. The girl was staying in Paharganj and left for Bangladesh on Friday, according to police.
In a tweet, the woman said she didnt know it was a serious situation.
“I have just arrived in Bangladesh. Im really sorry that I didnt know it was a serious situation. I am fine in mind and body. I will explain more tomorrow,” she said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (central) Sanjay Kumar Sain said people seen in the video have been identified.
Three people, including a juvenile, have been apprehended and are being questioned. They have confessed to their involvement in the incident as seen in the video. They all are residents of an area near Paharganj, he said.
A police official said the accused have been bound down, which means they will have to appear before police to join the investigation whenever required.
Action has been initiated against the accused under the Delhi Police Act. However, the further course of action will be decided on the basis of the merits of the case and in accordance with the womans complaint, if any, the police said.
So far, the woman has not lodged any complaint. A Japanese embassy official, in response to an email, confirmed that she has not contacted the embassy also, a senior police officer said.
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) also took cognisance of the video on Friday and asked Delhi Police to examine it and register an FIR.
Separately, Delhi Police took to Twitter on Saturday, asking people not to share “misinformation” on social media about the number of crimes reported in the national capital on Holi.
“Some social media handles are sharing exaggerated and unfounded crime figures of Delhi pertaining to Holi festival. Spreading misinformation is legal offence… Do not share such information without verification,” it said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Federal staff and is auto-published from a syndicated feed.)