A journalist has reported being harassed while waiting for a cab near DLF Mall in Noida. The incident occurred when a man on a motorcycle, riding as a passenger, waved at her and made a lewd remark, asking, “kya rate legi?” before quickly speeding away.
Sonal Pateria, who managed to reach home safely, shared her distressing experience on social media, revealing that this was not an isolated incident. According to Pateria, she has faced similar harassment multiple times in both Delhi and Noida over the past month.
Trigger warning: Harassment
1. I was waiting for my cab near DLF m, Sector -18, Noida. A bike crossed and the guy sitting at the back waved and asked ‘kya rate legi’. He didn’t even stop and everything happened within a flick of seconds.
Thankfully, I’m back at home safely rn.
— Sonal Pateria (@SonalPateria) August 14, 2024
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In her posts, Pateria recounted a series of troubling encounters:
- A man approached her while she was walking to a metro station in Sector-18, Noida, and made an unwanted advance, justifying his actions by saying he was attracted to her.
- Another incident involved a man at Rajiv Chowk metro station in Delhi asking for her phone number, citing her appearance as the reason for his interest.
Pateria expressed frustration over the repeated harassment, emphasizing that her clothing or the time of day should not justify such behavior. She also voiced a sense of exhaustion from constantly reporting these incidents and living in fear.
In response to the allegations, the Noida Police’s official X (formerly Twitter) account stated that the case has been assigned to the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Police, with a team being formed to investigate the incident thoroughly, including reviewing CCTV footage from the area.