After ex-Miss India, boxer gets 'molested' in city; 3 arrested

Kolkata: Despite the Commissioner of Police (CP) Kolkata having instructed police personnel to follow a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) after former Miss India Ushashi Sengupta was heckled by some youths, a similar incident happened on Friday where an internationally acclaimed lady boxer was molested in front of a policeman.

According to the victim who works in Writers' Buildings, she was on her way to office on Friday morning at around 11:15 am, on her scooter. At the crossing of B K Road and Remount Road, she stopped beside a bus as the red light was on. Meanwhile, three youths tried to board the bus but were obstructed due to her scooter. They allegedly hurled expletives at her, even after they boarded the bus and it started moving.

She reportedly chased the bus and was able to catch it at the crossing of Diamond Harbour Road and Remount Road. When the boxer protested against their actions, the trio allegedly got down from the bus and assaulted her. They even outraged her modesty.

The victim alleged that near the incident spot a police personnel was present, who had observed the scene but remained silent. When she sought help from him, the policeman allegedly told her to go to police station and file a complaint.

She subsequently wrote on Facebook: "I not only have found the policeman reluctant about the matter but also with great ignorance. He advised me to go to the nearest police station."

Reading about the issue on social media, senior officials from Lalbazar got in touch with her. Later at night, she lodged a complaint against the youths at South Port police station. Immediately after the complaint, police arrested the three accused persons identified as Rahul Sharma, Shaikh Firoz and Washim Khan.

Born in a slum of Kidderpore and having faced financial difficulties since childhood, the victim had started boxing when she was 12-years-old. She won national and state-level championships and it was finally in 2016 that she decided to take up professional boxing. Under the guidance of Bahadur Chhetri, she continued to shine and was finally selected by Amjad Khan during the 2017 Super Boxing League.