‘Kya Rate Legi’: Journalist Allegedly Harassed While Waiting for Cab in Noida

A journalist was allegedly harassed while waiting for a cab near DLF Mall in Noida. A man riding a pillion on a bike waved at her and then made a lewd remark, asking “kya rate legi?” before speeding away. Pateria, who managed to reach home safely, took to social media to share her ordeal, revealing that this was not the first time she had faced harassment in Delhi and Noida in just a month.

“Trigger warning: Harassment. I was waiting for my cab near DLF m, Sector -18, Noida. A bike crossed and the guy sitting at the back waved and asked ‘kya rate legi’. He didn’t even stop and everything happened within a flick of seconds. Thankfully, I’m back at home safely right now,” wrote the journalist on X (formerly Twitter).

In the next few posts, she recounted three incidents. Sonal Pateria alleged that a random man greeted her on her way to sector-18 metro station in Nodia in broad daylight. “I was not shocked, then I eased myself thinking that maybe he’s a viewer of my journalistic work. But I was wrong,” she added.

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The man then tried to justify his actions, asking Pateria to calm down, adding “Maine aapko walk karte dekha. Apa mujhe bahut acchi lagin. To maine socha rok kar baat ki jaaye. Kya pata koi chance ban jaaye [I saw you walking, and I really liked you. So I thought I’d stop and talk to you. Who knows, maybe there’s a chance].”

The journalist politely said she was not interested in him and walked away, but the encounter left her shaken. Feeling vulnerable, she immediately called her friend who was waiting at the metro station, and asked him to stay on the phone until she reached safely.

Pateria recounted another harrowing experience in Delhi’s Rajiv Chowk. “The other day I was at Rajeev Chowk metro station, a random guy came, asked for my number because again- He found me beautiful by looks and potential enough to be his plus one,” she claimed.

“All of this happened this month only. I’ll not be defensive about what I was wearing or what the time was. Because none of that matters. What matters is that I and a lot of women like me live in constant fear. And we have no energy left to report each and every case,” she further expressed.

She concluded her series of posts on X with the words: “Delhi NCR streets are full of dogs at night. They start barking or following when you cross by their side. I’m less scared of them now. At least they stop when you stand or they have fear of sticks. These men whom I came across, are not scared of anything!”

The official X handle of DCP Noida responded to her thread and wrote, “The investigation of the above case has been given to Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Police, Noida and a team will be formed under the leadership of Assistant Commissioner of Police Noida and strict action will be taken against the accused by investigating the CCTV footage etc. around the incident site.”

“The investigation of the above case has been given to ACP-1 Noida and a team will be formed under the leadership of ACP-1 Noida and strict action will be taken against the accused by investigating the CCTV footage etc. around the incident site,” the DCP Noida shared an update on the matter.

The journalist shared an update on the matter. She said that she has received a call from police. Pateria wrote, “I have received a call from ACP Praveen Singh, he assured that they will do every possible thing.”

“Though I believe, this issue is more of a cultural problem rather than law and order. Still, Noida Police took this case in their hands. Looking up for the action & updates,” she added.