‘Threat to life’: Manipur student alleges harassment by taxi driver in Delhi | Latest news India

A student from Manipur has accused Delhi Police officials of filing a harassment complaint against a taxi driver and allegedly offering the man an “easy route to bail”, reported the news agency PTI.

The 19-year-old Delhi University student was on her way to ISBT, at her rented house near the north campus, on October 5 at 11:10 p.m. During the ride, the taxi driver from an online taxi aggregator constantly asked uncomfortable questions.

She claimed the driver held her against her will and drove to a secluded area with the intention of raping her.

When she resisted the drivers’ advances, he even threatened to kill her.

The girl managed to escape and immediately contacted the police, but their response was of no help. She alleged that she had to wait seven hours to file her complaint.

“When I contacted the North East Delhi Police helpline, instead of offering immediate help, they simply redirected me to the nearest police station. Then, I went to the Model Town police station, hoping for quick action. However, I was met with shocking indifference and lack of urgency from the police. she declared.

An FIR was lodged under sections 127 (2) (wrongful confinement) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against Vinod, the taxi driver, on Monday.

He was arrested and granted bail the same day, the girl said.

“Despite a clear and serious threat to my life, the FIR that was eventually filed included only minor charges, allowing the culprit to easily be granted bail. The lenient handling of the case and the failure to taking immediate and necessary steps are deeply concerning,” she told PTI.

In her appeal to the special commissioner, she said the taxi driver who picked her up was a different person than the one listed online. The girl added that the taxi driver knew her residential area, which posed a threat to her safety, and requested the police to provide protection.

A senior police officer told PTI that he had received the complaint and was looking into the matter.