Jonti Bordoloi.
Mamata Mishra
GUWAHATI, March 23: In a city that regularly records multiple episodes of chain and mobile snatching, the bravery of Jonti Bordoloi has come across as the much-needed warning for those who think it is easy to target a lone woman walking on the streets.
The 25-year-old woman not just put up a brave fight to foil a mobile phone robbery bid, but also ensured that her attacker was put behind bars.
The incident took place near LKRB Path in Nabin Nagar area of the city on Sunday morning around 5.40 am when Jonti had come out of her rented accommodation to go to the Guwahati Railway Station.
Jonti, who hails from Raha in Nagaon district, had lost her job at a café during the lockdown and her mobile phone was one of the prized possessions that she was not ready to part with, even if it meant fighting a goon on the street.
“I had noticed a biker, who zoomed past me and stopped at a distance. However, oblivious of his intentions, I walked on towards the main road when he called me. For a moment, I thought it is someone I knew. However, seeing me perplexed, he grabbed me by the scarf I was wearing and tried to push me to a bye-lane,” Jonti told The Assam Tribune, recalling the harrowing experience.
However, quickly regaining composure, she fought back the miscreant who had by then snatched her mobile phone and was trying to escape on his bike.
“It was around 5.40 in the morning and there was hardly anybody on the road. Even though I was constantly screaming, there was no one to help me. Chasing him, I once yanked him off the bike, but he kicked me in the stomach and I fell down. Not willing to let go, I grabbed him by his feet and he stumbled. By that time some local people arrived on the spot and he was handed over to the police,” she added.
Jonti sustained multiple injuries to the head, neck, elbows and knees and was treated at the MMCH, Panbazar.
The culprit, Tapan Gogoi has been arrested by the police and a case has been registered at the Geetanagar Police Station with case number 128/2021 under section 341/ 392/ 354 /325 of the IPC.
Praising her bravery, Geetanagar police has decided to recommend her name for a bravery award.
“Tapan Gogoi (26) who has been arrested in this case works at a hotel. He attacked the girl seeing her alone on the street, with the intention of decamping with whatever valuables he could get. The courage with which the young lady fought back is rare and exemplary for all girls in such situations. We are consulting with our seniors to recommend her name for an award,” Officer in-charge of Geetanagar Police Station Maneswar Roy stated.
