'They hit me but I didn't let them touch the girl'

The case of the girl who was molested by a mob of over 20 men on the streets of Guwahati on Monday night has raised questions about the indifference of the bystanders and the callousness of the police. But a few brave men, including the senior journalist of a city-based daily, did try to shield the girl from her tormentors before the police arrived at the spot.

"I was returning home from work and was slowing my car a bit at a traffic signal when I saw a mob chasing a girl. She kept shouting mujhe bachao (save me)' while running towards my car. I parked the car and held the panic-stricken girl's hand and dialled the police for help," said Mukul Kalita.

Kalita, the soft-spoken editor of a local daily, said, "As soon as I came out of the car, the girl fell down on the ground and touched my feet, pleading with me to save her. The mob even charged towards me and abused me, shoving me and hitting me. But I did not let them touch the girl any more. I was just acting like a human being. The girl had already been stripped and I could only move her around to hide her modesty."

Kalita handed over the girl to policemen as soon as they arrived at the spot.

Before Kalita arrived at the scene, a few other men tried to protect the girl, but they were chased away by the violent mob. A senior police official also helped Kalita shield the girl from the mob before the arrival of the police.