Kolkata: A 22-year-old college student who works as a private tutor was allegedly molested by two youths after they waylaid her while she was on her way to teach a student in Barrackpore, North 24-Parganas, on Saturday evening. Police have arrested both the accused following the incident, which triggered tension in the Manirampur Byayam Samity area under Barrackpore police station.The third-year BA student alleged that she was walking through a narrow lane, as she did every day, when a youth approached her from the opposite direction and stopped her on the pretext of talking. “The accused held my hand and tried to pull me. When I attempted to avoid him and walk away, he even chased me,” the woman said in her complaint.The accused allegedly demanded her Instagram ID and told her that she must respond to his messages. He also threatened her with dire consequences if she blocked him. When she tried to leave, he allegedly behaved indecently with her. A second youth then joined him and allegedly harassed her as well.The woman told police that she was terrified by the incident and felt unsafe. She also alleged that the youth who demanded her Instagram ID had harassed her on several previous occasions. According to her, several other women in the locality had also raised complaints against him.Initially, she did not disclose the incident to anyone out of fear. However, following her family’s advice, she informed some local residents. The accused was subsequently assaulted by locals, following which police reached the spot and arrested both youths.“We are investigating the allegations. Both accused have been arrested on the basis of the complaint,” a senior police officer of the Barrackpore Commissionerate said.
