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How Delhi Police is exposing molesters in the city

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DailyBiteAug 07, 2015 | 18:35

How Delhi Police is exposing molesters in the city

Also read: This happened to me: Why this is no land for Nirbhaya

It was the winter of 2002. The third day of a brand new year. Around 5am, I got off a train from Kanpur at the New Delhi Railway Station. I was back in my Karmabhoomi, post a Christmas vacation with my family.

The cold was unbearable. Despite the layers of clothing on me, I could still feel the chill in my bones. It was still dark outside; considering it was winter, daybreak was another hour away. I stood near the Paharganj exit of the railway station, unsure whether to head home or wait for daybreak. It was a Monday and I had to reach office shortly. At the time, I was working as a producer at one of the leading news agencies in the capital.

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As I debated whether to step out or not, I remembered my father's advice, "don't venture out in the dark". So I decided to wait. About 45 minutes later, as dawn broke, I slowly started walking towards the pre-paid auto counter, believing they ought to be safer. Midway, as I manoeuvred through rows of waiting autos, sleeping street dogs, filth, with barely any street lights to show the way, I tripped and fell, hurting my knee. It started to bleed. I had fallen on the gravel, my jeans got torn. As I tried to get up, wincing in pain, an autowala came to help. He asked me where I was headed. I said it was all right, and that I'd take a pre-paid auto.

He insisted, I go with him.

The bleeding knee, the daunting walk to the far end of the station entrance to the pre-paid counter and the cold, compelled me to take up his offer. The auto I noticed was covered on one side, with some dark coloured sheet, like it usually is during the monsoons. Read more here.

Last updated: August 07, 2015 | 18:35
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