New Delhi: The Delhi police have apprehended three persons, including a juvenile after a video emerged in which a Japanese woman was being harassed on the occassion of Holi. The woman said in a tweet that she had reached Bangladesh and was fit mentally and physically. She did not make any complaint with the Delhi police or her country’s embassy as confirmed by an embassy official, as reported by the news agency PTI.
In the video, the men are seen grabbing the woman and smearing her with Holi colours. A boy is also seen smashing an egg on her head. At one point she can be heard saying "bye bye" in the video. According to the police, the video was shot in an area of Paharganj in Delhi on Holi which was celebrated on March 8. The girl in the video is a Japanese tourist who was staying at Paharganj and departed for Bangladesh on Friday.
The police on Friday said that they have taken notice of the video and were verifying whether it is of a recent incident or an old one, PTI reported. However, people seen in the video have been identified and apprehended including a juvenile.
They were questioned and confessed their involvement in the incident as seen in the video. They all are residents of a nearby area of Paharganj, PTI reported. Police said action has been initiated against the accused under the Delhi Police Act. However, further legal action will only be decided on merits and as per her complaint, that is, if she files one.
Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal had said she was issuing a notice to Delhi Police to examine the video and arrest the perpetrators. The National Commission for Women also took notice of the video and asked Delhi Police to register an FIR in the matter.
"@NCWIndia has taken cognizance. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to @CPDelhi to immediately file FIR in the matter. NCW has also sought a fair and time-bound investigation in the matter. A detailed report must be apprised to the commission," the NCW tweeted.