A video of a woman being touched inappropriately on stage, with Congress’ Deepender Hooda and other leaders present, has teed up fresh trouble for the Congress.

The BJP, sharing the undated video, was quick to use the incident to allege that the rival party’s “Ladki hoon lad sakti hoon slogan” is just rhetoric. The trouble compounded for the Congress when Kumari Selja, its prominent Dalit face and a Chief Minister hopeful, said the woman told her that “someone misbehaved with her”.

A hand appears from behind and reaches for the woman standing next to Deepinder Hooda, shows the video. A Congress member quickly pushes the hand away. The short clip is being played on loop in the video shared by the BJP. 

Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also stressed that if a complaint was filed, they would take action.

“They don’t respect anyone including women, the poor, and Dalits. This is in their culture and DNA. If we get an application in this regard, then we will take action. Our government will take strict action and not spare anyone. Women are an integral part of the society,” he said.

The incident comes as voting ends in Haryana. The BJP is looking to secure a hat-trick, while the Congress hopes to make a comeback in the state.

Kumari Selja, who spoke to the woman, condemned the incident, adding that action should be taken against those involved.

“I spoke to her, she told me that some people were touching her and trying to remove her from the stage. We saw the same in the video as well and when I confirmed this with her, she told me that someone misbehaved with her. If something like this happens to a woman today, it is highly condemnable. Action should be taken on this,” said Ms Selja.

#WATCH | Hisar, Haryana: On an alleged molestation attempt with a Congress worker on stage at a Congress rally, Congress MP Kumari Selja says “I spoke to her, she told me that some people were touching her and trying to remove her from the stage. We saw the same in the video as… pic.twitter.com/fahDEoDVQ1

— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2024

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also posted on X and termed the incident as “most shocking.”

“A woman congress leader was molested on stage in the presence of Deepender Hooda by congress leaders. Confirmed by news reports and even Kumari Selja. If women are not safe in Congress meetings in full public view during the daytime – can they be safe if Congress comes to power?” said Mr Poonawalla.

A New Jersey woman has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines, alleging that the carrier failed to prevent or stop a sexual assault she experienced at the hands of a stranger seated next to her on a flight. According to the Independent, the incident occurred on August 26, 2022, during a nighttime flight from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Newark Liberty International Airport. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, claims that American Airlines bears responsibility for not ensuring her safety and well-being on board.

According to the lawsuit, shortly after takeoff, the woman fell asleep, only to awaken to a horrific discovery. She found the stranger’s arm inside her pants and his hand forcing hers onto his p***s. The man had covered them both with his black puffer jacket, “digitally penetrating” her while she slept. The woman was left paralysed in shock and panic upon waking.

The stranger then climbed on top of her, ”attempting to penetrate her with his p***s, which he was partially able to do,” according to the lawsuit. The woman mustered the strength to push him away, and he promptly returned to his seat, ending the assault.

Later, the attacker attempted to downplay the assault by offering the victim water while forcibly holding her hand, only stopping when he noticed a flight attendant approaching. The victim then woke her friend and reported the incident to a flight attendant, who relocated her to a different seat for the remainder of the flight.

Upon landing, the perpetrator was escorted off the plane, and authorities collected statements from the victim and witnesses. But it is ”unknown whether the Perpetrator was taken into custody and/or ever charged with the sexual assault of Plaintiff,” the lawsuit claimed.

”As alleged in the complaint, we look forward to seeking justice on behalf of our client to remedy this terrible injustice for all that she has suffered,” the woman’s attorney, Brian Andris, told The Independent.

In an email, an American Airlines spokesperson said, “We are reviewing the lawsuit and the details of the flight. The safety and comfort of our customers is a top priority for Americans.”

The lawsuit alleged that the airline industry has been aware of the alarming increase in in-flight sexual assaults, with the FBI reporting 96 related cases in the previous year alone. The suit further emphasised that the victim bore no responsibility for the assault and that American Airlines had a clear duty to ensure her safety during the flight. 

”American Airlines breached its duty of care by failing to properly monitor the cabin, failing to prevent the sexual assault, and failing to promptly intervene when the assault occurred,” the lawsuit claims.

Gonda:

Two sisters allegedly died by suicide by jumping into a river here on Monday with their father accusing his son-in-law of molesting his younger daughters, police said.

The father, Suresh Kumar, claimed that his daughters — Sunita (19) and Punita (17) — were being molested by his eldest daughter Anita’s husband Ashok Kumar, they said.

The two girls left their home in Mankapur area this morning saying they were leaving and would never return, Kumar told the police.

The sisters Bisuhi river and jumped into it, Station House Officer Santosh Kumar Mishra said, adding that their bodies were later recovered from the river with the help of villagers.

Kumar said he did not take the girls seriously at that time assuming that they were just going outside to attend nature’s call. However, the villagers began a search when the girls did not return after a while.

They reached near the river as some villagers had seen the duo heading towards it and informed the police.

The sisters had tied each other with a cloth, the police said.

Sunita had passed class 12 this year while Punita was a student of class 10, the police said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Thane:

Police have registered an FIR against a doctor for allegedly molesting a 56-year-old woman after she blamed him for the death of her son during treatment at a hospital in Maharashtra’s Navi Mumbai township, an official said on Sunday.

The son of the woman, a resident of CBD Belapur, died on May 30 this year, the FIR said without specifying its cause and the ailment of his death. 

The woman had accused the doctor of not giving proper treatment to his son, leading to his death, the official from CBD police station said.

When she questioned the doctor, the latter allegedly abused and molested her, he said.

Based on the woman’s complaint, a case was registered on Saturday against the doctor under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman.) 351(3) (criminal intimidation by threatening to cause death or grievous hurt) and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), the police said.

No reason was given for the delay in filing the complaint.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)