Bystanders- Please Intervene?

In broad daylight on a busy street a woman was allegedly raped by a drunk man in full public view on the pavement of the street in Vishakhapatnam but a dozen of passers-by filmed the crime instead of helping the victim.

According tothe report by Hindustan Timesthis incident took place near New Railway Colony between Tadichetlapalem and railway station on Sunday afternoon at around 2:30pm. When the victim 43 year old woman, who was sitting next to a tree on the footpath was raped by Ganji Siva a 23 year old truck cleaner. He was then arrested in the evening and was produced before the court on Monday.

Vishakhapatnam IV town police sub inspector K Suresh told HT that “Apparently she was very weak as she had not eaten for several hours and was sleeping on the footpath under the shadow of a tree, when Siva, in inebriated condition assaulted her sexually”.

Public on the street did not bother to stop the accused as the woman was weak to even scream.“Instead, some of them were more interested in capturing the incident on their mobile phones. After sometime an auto driver, RG Srinu, shot a short video of it and brought it to our notice” said police sub inspector K Suresh.

Thevideo clipshot by the auto driver puts forth the truth about ignorance of the public against such sexual offence as the people walk past even when the incident is taken place in clear public view. The auto driver later showed the video clip to the police which further lead to the arrest of the accused.

The woman was sent to King George Hospital for medical examination. “We have booked a case under section 376 of the Indian Penal code,” said the police.