Meerut, Uttar Pradesh:
Accusing the police of harassment, the woman who took on a group of attackers single handedly on a busy street in Meerut, said on Sunday that the cops were dilly-dallying in acting against the accused and threatened to commit suicide if she does not get justice.
The woman, Mamata Yadav, said that she and her family were "living in fear" as only one of the accused has been nabbed since the incident occurred on Tuesday and alleged that the police were harassing her and not taking action against the culprits due to their proximity with a political party leader.
"They called me to the civil lines police station, but they are not calling the main accused. If I don''t get justice within a week, I will commit suicide," an emotional Mamata said.
She said the authorities should not be "under any misconception that I will remain silent after being given the Rupees one lakh award".
"I do not need this money, but justice. Only one of the accused has been arrested. The rest, including the person who is close to an SP leader, are roaming free. How can I and my family feel safe in such a situation," she said, adding that though she suffered a fracture in her hand, the police have not taken her for a medical examination till now.
Mamata's brother Jeevan said they were afraid that the accused might try to kill her if they are not immediately apprehended.
"My sister has no other option. Instead of dying at the hands of the goons, she would prefer to give up her life with dignity," he said.
Mamata added, "I haven't committed any crime. They are the people who did it, so they should be punished and called to police station rather than I."
In a display of courage, the woman had taken on a group of attackers as they assaulted her husband after hitting the couple's bike with their car at 'kacheri pul' area while no one came forward to help her.
According to the woman, the youths who were in the car alighted and started assaulting her husband following which she tried to resist the attackers by showering them with blows.
The woman said that her husband and her sought help from the people present at the scene but no one came forward.
Police had said one of the accused, Ankit, a resident of village Bana in Mawana, has been arrested following a complaint from a home guard Babu Ram, who was an eyewitness.
He was booked under sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of IPC.
Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party said action will be taken against the culprits.
"I assure her that even if he is the son or relative of a leader belonging to any party or SP, he will be punished. Samajwadi Party does not believe in all this. A criminal is a criminal," party leader Naresh Agarwal said.
Opposition BJP in the state said it was not surprised with the victim's claims.
"It is nothing new in Akhilesh's reign. UP has seen not only disturbing communal violence, but also women's safety is being ignored," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.