Four students were arrested for chasing Indian textile minister Smriti Irani’s car and booked for stalking, using offensive language and gestures, police said on Sunday.
The suspects, aged between 20 and 25, were arrested on Saturday evening in New Delhi, the Indian capital city, after the minister’s security staff stopped their vehicle and handed them over to the police.
The police said the four young people inside a car chased the minister’s vehicle and tried to overtake her twice in a rash and negligent manner near the Myanmar embassy in Chanakyapuri area.
Following their arrest, police said the students were found to be drunk.
“We took the students to a hospital and their medical examination confirmed presence of alcohol in their blood. They were returning from a friend’s birthday party in south Delhi and were roaming in the area for fun,” a police official said.
“They have been held for speeding, drink driving and misbehaving with the minister and her staff.”
Reports said the students were later released on bail.
Delhi Commission for Women Chief Swati Maliwal appreciated the minister’s action and said it would encourage other women to come forward and report.
“Good Smriti Irani acted against men who chased her. Encourages others to report. Important centre state work together for women safety in Delhi,” Maliwal wrote on Twitter.
Scrutiny of violence against women in India has grown after 2012 fatal gang-rape of a medical student in New Delhi. Though it brought spotlight on crimes against women in India, however, brutal sexual attacks against women continue to be reported across India
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