December 10, 2017
"Dangal" actress Zaira Wasim has detailed a
harrowing experience of being allegedly molested by a middle-aged man while she
was on a flight from Delhi to Mumbai. Women commissions have urged her to file a
police complaint.
The 17-year-old National Award winner shared her ordeal
on a Vistara Airlines flight on Saturday night via Instagram.
She shared
a snapshot of the man's foot which was rested on her arm rest and detailed her
experience of how the man "kept nudging my shoulder and continued to move his
foot up and down my back and neck".
In a self-shot video for Instagram
live chat, Zaira, who is from Jammu and Kashmir, is also seen breaking down.
"I just landed, the whole irony of this that I yelled... and this is not
done... this is not how you should be treated or made to feel. This is terrible.
This is how they will take care of girls? No one will help us if we don't decide
to help ourselves and that is the worst thing," she said, looking visibly
disturbed.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) as well as the Delhi
and Maharashtra commisions for women on Sunday urged the actress to approach the
police.
NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma said she was horrified.
"I am
taking suo moto cognizance and giving notice to Vistara and a copy to DCP
Maharashtra to act against the airline. We would like to tell Zaira that we are
there to help her out in any way we can," Sharma told the media.
Swati
Maliwal of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) also condemned the incident.
"Urge Zaira Wasim to file police complaint. Accused should be arrested.
Since flight was from Delhi to Mumbai, the DCW is issuing notice to Vistara
Airlines seeking details of man, action taken by airlines and SOPs (Standard
Operating Procedures) followed in such matters. Now even flights are unsafe for
girls," Maliwal tweeted.
Calling it a "shameful incident", Maharashtra
State Commission for Women (MSCW) Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said: "MSCW will
direct DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) to conduct an inquiry in the
matter. We will inquire into the steps taken by Vistara to address the
complaint.
"There should be inquiry about why the cabin crew did not help
her. We have directed the Mumbai Police to look into the matter immediately."
Vistara Airlines has said it will investigate the issue.
"We have
seen the reports regarding Zaira Wasim's experience with another customer... We
are carrying out detailed investigation and will support Zaira in every way
required. We have zero tolerance for such behaviour," read a post on the
Airlines' official Twitter page.
The airline apologized to Zaira and said
it was carrying out a detailed investigation.
"We will support Wasim in
every way required and also if she decides to report this matter to the
police... We apologize for what Wasim experienced and we have zero tolerance for
such behaviour," read a post on the Airlines' official Twitter page.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the passenger should
be identified by Air Vistara and a case should be filed.