'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What’s the story?
Bollywood actress Zaira Wasim, on Sunday, alleged that she was molested by a co-passenger, who was sitting behind her, on a flight between Delhi and Mumbai.
The 17-year-old, in an Instagram post, said that a passenger, who was sitting behind her on the flight, was constantly rubbing his foot against her in an inappropriate manner.
In case you didn’t know
Wasim shot to fame earlier this year, after the release of her film Dangal, which featured the Phogat sisters and their coach and father Mahavir Phogat. The film charted the struggles they had to face in their early days, and how they climbed to fame in the world of amateur wrestling.
Heart of the matter
In an Instagram live video, a distraught Wasim was seen narrating her experience on the flight, where she was allegedly molested by another fellow passenger.
"So, I just landed and you know the whole irony of this is that the guy... this is not done at all. This is not the way, this is not a girl should be made to feel because this is terrible. Is this how they are doing to take care of girls? No one will help us if we don't decide to help ourselves. This is the worst thing," she said in the video.
She also mentioned that she tried to get a picture of the person in question, but due to poor lighting conditions, she was unable to do so.
"Managed to get this (shot of the molester's foot). The lights were dimmed so it was even worse. It continued for another 5-10 minutes and then I was sure of it. He kept nudging my shoulder and continued to move his foot up and down my back and neck," she said.
"I tried to record it on my phone to understand it better. But because the cabin lights were dimmed, I failed to get it. I ignored it the first time, blamed the turbulence for it. Until I woke up to this pleasant sight of his beautiful foot rubbing my back and neck,” she continued. “Guess he couldn't sit like a civilised human being and placed his foot on my armrest while he's fully 'pheloaed' his body on his seat (sic)."
Star Indian wrestler Geeta Phogat also reacted to the incident on Twitter, saying that the alleged molester should have been brought to tears.
"What happened with Zairawasim is very embarrassing. But if I was in place, he would have to cry," she said.
Babita Phogat, who's role Wasim had played in the movie Dangal, also posted a video on Twitter, opining about the incident.
What’s next
The Civil Aviation and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken note of the matter, and nad has sought details from the Vistara Airlines, on which Wasim was travelling. It remains to be seen what steps are taken with regards to this.
Author’s take
It is indeed sad to see that such incidents are happening in our country, with the perpetrator not coming to light as of yet. These incidents need to be nipped out in the bud, and quick action is a must.
