Two arrested for ‘sexually harassing’ student on bus

Two employees of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) have been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting and harassing a 21-year-old student in a bus in the Sunni area of Shimla district, police said here today.

According to reports, the incident occurred inside the bus on Wednesday when the victim, who is a student in a private institute, boarded the bus to Sunni. In her complaint to the police, the student said two other passengers boarded the bus at a nearby station.

During the journey, one of them sat beside her. He struck a conversation with her and asked her phone number and social media handles. When she declined his request, the other person also sat beside her. The two allegedly tried to sexually harass and assault her. Horrified, the woman gave out a loud shriek after which they stopped.

After reaching her destination, the student lodged a police complaint against the accused who were later identified as employees of HRTC. One of them was a bus driver, while the other was a mechanic. The police arrested the accused today.

The police said a case under Sections 75(2) (sexual harassment), 78(2) (stalking), 3(5) (criminal act is done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 had been registered and further investigation was on.

This is the third case of sexual harassment reported from Shimla district in the last few days. Earlier this month, a professor posted in a government college in Shimla was booked for sexually harassing and threatening a student. A school teacher was booked for sexually harassing a 16-year-old student in the Theog subdivision on Wednesday.