Yahoo Lifestyle Indian Woman Hauls Attacker To Police Station
Pradnya Mandhare. Photo: Instagram.
It's no secret that India has been suffering from a growing sexual violence epidemic of late, with government figures estimating that a rape occurs every 21 minutes in the country.
While steps have been taken to try and curb the high incidence of assault, it still has a long way to go.
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Over the weekend, 20-year old Pradnya Mandhare was attacked on a train station platform in front of no less than 50 people - who all looked the other way.
"I [tried] to get away from him, but he grabbed me... The only thing to do, because nobody else was doing anything, was to hit him, and so I belted him with my bag," said Mandhare.
Instead of fleeing to get away however, Mandhere saw that he was intoxicated, and took the opportunity to make a citizen's arrest.
"He tried to hit me back and he really stunk of alcohol, but I was determined not to let him get away with it. I know that women don't like to complain to the police, but I was determined to make sure he was punished."
Mandhere reportedly dragged him by the hair to the police station, where officers arrested 25-year-old drug addict and alcoholic Chavan Chowdee.
"I also asked the police officers to teach the accused a lesson so that he would not dare to molest a woman ever again," said Mandhere, adding, "most women are scared of approaching the police as filing a complaint is a lengthy process. It involves giving a lot of statements and sometimes dealing with uncooperative officers."
Manhere explained to press that her actions may "tarnish" her reputation, but that it was important to speak out against such actions.
"Parents of girls also think that going to a police station would tarnish their daughter's reputation. But, women should raise their voice and teach such people a lesson. Women are not objects for anyone to touch at will."
India's government has come under fire recently for turning a blind eye to the sexual violence that is now rife across the country.
Following the brutal murder of two 15-year girls in the country's north last year, an Indian minister caused outrage after saying he thought rape was "sometimes right".
"There should be justice for the families of the two teenage girls and for all the women and girls from lower-caste communities who are targeted and raped in rural India," said Lise Grande, the UN's resident coordinator for India.
"Violence against women is not a women's issue, it's a human rights issue."
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