A video went viral, where a man seen sexually harassing a female student inside an auto on Wednesday evening in Agartala. When video went viral which sparked outrage among the people.
The incident came to light after Tripura Royal Scion Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma shared details of the assault on Facebook, prompting immediate police action.
The victim female university student was travelling GB Bazar to her university on Wednesday, when a male co-passenger began touching her inappropriately. Despite confronting the man and receiving support from another female passenger and the auto driver, the accused continued his harassment after the woman got off at her stop. Terrified, the victim asked the driver for help as the man reportedly followed and threatened her even after being forced out of the auto.
What did the victim explained about the incident
The victim female student stated, “I sat in the corner, then one lady, then this guy. We only reached Shamali Bazar when this guy touched my shoulder (inappropriately), so I directly confronted him and asked him to remove his hand. But he got so hyper and started saying so many things. I told the lady who was sitting in the middle that he touched me inappropriately and she also scolded him. Even the driver did the same. I thought it was fine, but then when we reached Battala area, the lady got down at her destination, and this man started doing all such stuff again. I directly asked the driver to let him out, and then he started threatening me.”
She also added, “I was so scared I started crying and shaking. The driver made him get down, but he was still running and following the auto. Since I was very scared, I asked the driver for help. He stayed with me for a while and gathered some other uncles around. Only then did the man stop following me. This left me traumatised and with a question—how am I ever going to feel safe again, that too in broad daylight?”
The student also captured video footage of the incident on her phone, which played a crucial role in identifying the suspect.
Taking swift action, Pradyot Debbarma contacted senior members of the Youth Tipra Federation (YTF) and coordinated with local police. His public statement on social media read: “If this culprit gets away with this, others may be emboldened to repeat such acts. We won’t stay silent.”
The accused man arrested of Sexually Harassment case in Agartala
By late Wednesday evening, an FIR was registered at West Agartala Women Police Station. Within 12 hours, police arrested the accused—identified as Shayamal Das, a resident of Udaipur in Gomati District—from Battala Market.
Speaking to India Today NE, Swasati Das, Officer-in-Charge at the West Agartala Women Police Station, confirmed:
“We reviewed the video footage and launched a manhunt as soon as the FIR was filed. The accused was arrested early Thursday and will be presented in court.”
This incident has triggered massive public outcry.
