Northeast Women in Delhi Protests Against Sexual Assault

By Ninglun Hanghal

New Delhi, Sep 5 : Several women and students from Manipur gathered in front of the "Wow" restaurant and bar at Delhi's Connaught Place holding placards and festoons strongly condemning the alleged sexual assault of a woman from the Northeast region, by the Manager of the restrobar where she worked.

Besides condemning the sexual assault the students and women from Manipur and other States of Northeast demanded speedy processing of the FIR.

The girl, from Manipur, worked at the said restrobar on and she was physically assaulted by the Manager on the charge that she was watching TV instead of attending to her duty on August 24 night.

The girl on the other hand, fought back and accused the Manager of trying to sexually molest her and approached the police lodged a complaint.

Organizations set up by people and students from the Northeast also took up her case.

NE students protesting at the Connaught Place police station

With restrictions imposed under CrPC 144 in and around Connaught Place, the OC of Connaught Place police station called in the demonstrators for a meeting at the police station and reportedly informed the co-coordinator of the demonstration, Ms Lemyao Shimray to discuss the matter along with the said victim.

When Ms Shimray inquired about the status of the FIR, the police officer replied that the accused, the Manager of the restaurant, has been arrested.

Speaking to the media, Mr Mukesh, who has taken over as Manager of the restrobar said, "The owner was not in town when the incident took place, and so Rohit Sharma (the accused Manager) was here till August 27". On the incident, the new Manager said, "I cannot comment now, the law will take its own course".

He further said "this is the first time that such an incident that has happened in our restrobar and many people from the Northeast are still working here, and this is the proof of the good atmosphere of this restaurant ".

Till the time of filing this report late in the evening the demonstrators were at the police station.