In a harrowing incident, a woman was chased by four men in an SUV on NH 1. The incident occurred when the woman, who is a teacher by profession, was driving between Dhilwan and Subhanpur on the Punjab highway. Identified as Harmeen Soch, the woman escaped the chasers using her wit, however, the incident left a lasting trauma in her mind. She narrated the entire incident on X including the video of the chase.
Details Of The Incident
As per Harmeen's tweet that embedded the video of the chase, the men followed her for 7km. Describing the chase as a "Cat and mouse game," Harmeen wrote, "Couldn’t get these 4 men in Scorpio off of my back. Either they were tailgating or slowing right ahead inhibiting my drive."
To save herself, Harmeen stopped at a petrol pump. However, this effort was in vain as the chasers too waited for her and started chasing her again. Harmeen wanted to speed up but was afraid of the consequences of speeding up on a Highway. So she had to slow down.
“In between I made a stop at petrol pump to let them move on. They must have halted somewhere on road too as I saw them catch up with me again. Finally I slowed down because speeding up on highway was nerve wrecking," Harmeen expressed.
Harmeen, who was totally in shock, was thinking of calling the police. However, she used her wit and escaped the chasers.
Explaining the way in which she escaped the four men, Harmeen wrote, "With speed now less than 50 kmph on NH1 which limits speed to 100 kmph (as in video), I am thinking whether to call police or keep moving. Thought I’d try speeding up one more time as my slip road was coming up ahead. They sped up again to slow me down and I turned left at the last moment without indicator which resulted in them going on elevated road and I on slip road."
Harmeen conveyed that there was nothing she did that might have instigated the four men. Although she was relieved, the experience was traumatic. Expressing her shock, she noted, "As I heaved a sigh of relief, I realised I was shaking in my knees with my heartbeat in my mouth. What is entertainment for a few men can be a trauma for women for many days. Not sure whether men realise that or not. PS: I hadn’t even overtaken this vehicle in the first place that their ego could have been hurt and they began this game."
This is not the first time men have chased a woman down the road.
Other incidents of women being chased by men on roads
On May 2, men in a BMW chased and harassed a woman and her family (women only) driving to the hospital late at night on the roads of Greater Noida. The incident was captured on the dashcam of the woman's car. As per the video, the men in the BMW tried to overtake the woman's car. They even hurled bottles at the car and taunted her to step out. The woman reversed in speed to escape the chasers. The other riders of the car were trying to call the police but it didn't help. When the video of the incident went viral, the police took action and within two days arrested the bullies.
In April 2024, a woman in Bengaluru who was travelling from Madiwala St. John's Hospital to Koramangala was chased and harassed by five men on two-wheelers. The woman captured the incident in the video to preserve it as proof although being in a terrified and panicked state. She immediately called the emergency number and informed the police who immediately arrived at the spot. However, the bikers had fled the spot by then. However, thanks to the woman's swift decision to record the video, two of the five men were identified and arrested.
The disturbing video showed three men on a bike knocking at the window of the woman's car and even trying to open the gate while muttering something to her.
The lack of safety for women on the roads
These hair-raising incidents show us how unsafe women are on the roads. While walking, running or driving, women are considered as potential prey of bullying harassing and raping by patriarchal men. It is not shocking then that many women are terrified to step out at night or be alone on the streets. No matter how independent the woman is, she becomes vulnerable regarding safety.
This restricts their freedom and even makes them doubt their sense of self. In fact, what is the guarantee that the men they are considering as their help during the wee hours are actually their saviours? Don't we know that most of the sexual harassment cases are registered against men whom women already know? Then, whom should women trust? They can't be alone, they can't completely trust men they know and of course, are prey to unknown men roaming around like wild animals.
The ordeal of women
Until and unless a woman has the wit and swiftness to record a video and call the police, she will be caught by the jaws of the bullies. When the chasing happens, women are terrified to the level that their mind stops working. All they can think of is the consequences of being caught up. Some of them freeze, some panic and some lose in the scuffle. Do women deserve all this? Why can't society let women live freely?
Why are women denied the basic right to safety? Why must women depend on anyone for their safety? Why can't society accept that women are individuals who have the right to roam freely?
It's time to take swift action and address this rather than leave it to the person in the traumatic situation to save themselves.
Views expressed are the author's own
/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/2024/11/11/2024-11-11t082606806z-shethepeople-black-logo-2000-x-2000-px-1.png){kind=logo}
/shethepeople/media/member_avatars/1000032049.jpg )
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/media_files/pbQ5InwzCXJBlrWZZIt1.png)