In a shocking incident, Delhi Women Commission Chief Swati Maliwal was dragged by a car for a few metres on Thursday morning. In a tweet, Maliwal revealed details of the harrowing experience near the AIIMS hospital.
कल देर रात मैं दिल्ली में महिला सुरक्षा के हालात Inspect कर रही थी। एक गाड़ी वाले ने नशे की हालत में मुझसे छेड़छाड़ की और जब मैंने उसे पकड़ा तो गाड़ी के शीशे में मेरा हाथ बंद कर मुझे घसीटा। भगवान ने जान बचाई। यदि दिल्ली में महिला आयोग की अध्यक्ष सुरक्षित नहीं, तो हाल सोच लीजिए।
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) January 19, 2023
She said she had stepped out to inspect the status of women's security in the national capital. Maliwal was on the pavement when the man drove up in a car and allegedly pressed her to get in. When he tried to force her, she reached in through the window to catch him. But he rolled up the window, trapping her arm. He then drove on, dragging her along, she said.
A 47-year-old man has been arrested, according to reports. "God saved my life. If the chairperson of the woman's commission is not safe in Delhi, then imagine the situation,” Maliwal said in a tweet in Hindi.
Police officials said a patrol vehicle spotted her on the pavement opposite AIIMS at around 3.05 am. Maliwal narrated her ordeal, following which the vehicle was tracked down and its driver, Harish Chandra of south Delhi's Sangam Vihar, apprehended, they said.
Responding to Maliwal's tweet, National Commission for Women chief Rekha Sharma said she would seek a report from the Delhi Police and demand strict action against the perpetrator.
The incident comes after the shocking death of 20-year-old Anjali Singh who died after being hit by a car and dragged for over 30 km in Delhi on January 1.
