Kolkata is again in question about the safety of women. On Dashami night, as Devi Durga bids farewell to the earth, patriarchal problems once again haunt the streets of Kolkata. According to police records, a 23-year-old journalist was returning home alone after meeting a friend around 9:40 pm when she was assaulted by a group of drunk youths inside the subway of Sodepur railway station.
"At first, I attempted to go quickly and ignored them. Suddenly, I felt an abrupt touch from behind. The group became violent when I slapped one. They assaulted and slapped me before running away. I screamed for assistance, but no one came forward. People were only watching from the stairs," the survivor told The Times of India.
Despite suffering facial injuries, she chased the molesters and sought help from the GRP of platform four, but no one was ready to help the girl.
Alleging the GRP, she said to TOI, "They instructed me to file a complaint after identifying the accused. The Dum Dum GRP officer-in-charge had to step in before any action could be taken.”
Belghoria GRP received a formal complaint from the victim on Friday. It was confirmed by senior officers that she was able to identify two of the accused using CCTV footage from the subway.
"We tracked down two of the accused. Raids are currently ongoing to catch them," a top Belghoria GRP officer stated to TOI. Outrage about safety violations at suburban train stations has been triggered by the incident.
It is very ironic when the streets of Kolkata are fully covered with posters of Maa Durga’s blessing, and some “Jay Shree Ram " orange flags can also be seen in every nook and corner of the city, yet these things are still happening. It clearly portrays that no one in the city is absolutely caring for each other, rather people are focusing only on their own agenda. The continuous heinous incidents are very disturbing and also a direct attack on Bengali culture.
Recently, Kolkata got the tag of the safest city in the country second time in a row. Also, UNESCO recognizes world heritage Kolkata’s Durga Puja is a celebration of ‘Matri Shakti’, but ironically, Kolkata is getting worse for women day by day. Recent incidents and the heinous murder of “Tilottoma” are still seeking justice.
The streets of Kolkata have witnessed many changes over the last 200 years, but the questions arising now are more concerning than ever. The city that has seen much bloodshed, marches, and protests over the years, can the city of joy bring smiles to its ‘ghorer meye’? That remains a question.
