A female journalist in Kolkata was subjected to a harrowing experience on a bus, where she was allegedly slapped, verbally abused, and molested by a 55-year-old passenger. The incident occurred while she was returning from work. The accused, identified as Sanjay Basak, a resident of Narayanpur, was seated in a ladies’ reserved seat on a private bus. After sitting next to the woman, Basak began touching her inappropriately. Despite her repeated requests for him to behave properly, he responded with abusive language, questioning her presence on the bus late at night. The situation escalated when he threw her bag at her, slapped her, and tore her clothes. Displaying remarkable courage, the journalist alerted the authorities and, with the help of fellow passengers, physically removed the man from the bus. The police, responding promptly, arrested Basak and registered a case under various sections of the law, including molestation and criminal intimidation. The journalist, after undergoing a medical examination, will provide a confidential statement to the magistrate.
