Haldwani: Two women returning from a movie were chased and harassed by ten men who followed and blocked their way repeatedly in two cars near Sacred Heart School in Uttarakhand's Haldwani. A video of the incident, posted on X by one of the women, and has gone viral on social media. Following the incident, the Uttarakhand Police have arrested four men, while a search is underway for the others involved.
The one-minute video that appears to have been shot by one of the women was posted by Prachi Joshi on X. It shows the car in which the women were travelling being forced to slow down by a black SUV that overtook their vehicle and blocked their path. As per the details of the incident provided by Joshi in a post on X, the incident occurred on Mukhani Road in Haldwani. The video shows the black SUV riding in front of the women's car, with men sitting inside it trying to intimidate them.
The men can also be seen opening the doors of their car while the car is moving after blocking the women's way on the road. Another white car appears in the video, speeding onto the road from the right side of the women's vehicle. Two men can be seen perched on its front doors, with only one leg inside the car, shouting at the women and making abusive comments. One of the men even falls off from the white car's door as the driver applies the brakes.
Joshi stated that they were blocked twice by the two cars but were luckily saved after a man on a two-wheeler appeared, trying to overtake them, because of which they got the space to escape.
"Just tonight I was coming back with my female friend from a movie and suddenly two cars, full of 10 men, tried to block our way...." Joshi, who shared the video, wrote in the post. "This happened straight for 25 minutes," she said, detailing the horrorifying incident
"The black Scorpio (with temporary registration T0724UK4618C) was ahead of us... they tried to stop us from passing by opening their doors. The white Nios i20 (UK-04-AK-1928) was behind blocking us so we couldn't run away. The first time it happened we escaped..."
"The second time they blocked us completely by opening all car doors but luckily a man on a scooter appeared... he tried to pass them which gave us a chance to escape. We somehow managed to run from there but just after few minutes they again tried to do the same (thing)," she wrote on X.
She also tagged Uttarakhand Police and slammed them for failing to ensure the safety and security of women. "Is this how peace and security is being maintained in the city? Why is hooliganism increasing in the city," she asked, urging the police to take strict action against the men involved in the incident. "This is related to the safety and security of the women residing in Haldwani," she added.