RJ mugged by bikers

Her radio programme had to be rescheduled; assailants took off with cash and valuables

Puja Anand (37), a Radio Jockey with a government radio channel had to shift her special show "You Asked For It" from night to morning last week after she was allegedly attacked and robbed of her purse by bike-borne assailants in the high security area of Parliament Street in the Capital.


Robbed of airtime: Puja Anand, who was mugged by bikers on her
way to office last week. pic/mid day

The assailants had hurled a brick at her car's door. The rock shattered one of the window panes and hit Puja on her right hand. She was completely taken aback by the suddenness of the incident. Meanwhile, the pillion rider of the bike picked up her bag containing cash and valuables and fled.

A police officer said that they have filed an FIR at Parliament Street police station on the basis of her statement. The matter is being investigated but no one has been arrested yet.

Speaking to the reporter Puja said that she was driving her car and was heading towards her office on Parliament Street when she was attacked. "Two persons were riding a bike parallel to me. I didn't think that they were dangerous. When I reached behind my office I had to stop my car for a moment as another vehicle was right in front.

I was stunned when the pillion rider tossed a brick that hit me on my arm after breaking the window pane. He then picked up my bag that was lying next to me and fled," she said. The victim lives in Vaishali in Ghaziabad along with her family. She had been hosting her show for the past four years. The programme was being aired every Tuesday night between 10 pm and 11 pm. But after the incident the show is being shifted to a morning slot.

Puja said that the incident has raised questions about safety of the women who work in the area. She said that around 80 women work at her office and those doing night shifts are scared. "I am really afraid after the incident. I won't do my show again at night. I will do it in the morning from now," said Puja.
Police said that they are investigating the matter.

Motorcycle diaries
*u00a0On 6 August, a woman had gone to deposit some cash in her State Bank of India account in Saket area when a biker tried to loot her. She raised an alarm after which the snatcher identified as Mohammed Sajid was arrested.u00a0
* On 10 August, Tishya Khillare who reportedly lives in JNU campus was attacked by bikersu00a0 when she was returning homeu00a0 in an auto-rickshaw after visiting Delhi University. The incident occurred near Chankayapuri area. The victim said that she tried to chase the bikers but they rode away snatching her purse containing her I-card, cash of around Rs 1500 and her cell phone. A case in this regard has been filed at Chankayapuri Police Station.
*u00a0Last month a German Diplomat was allegedly attacked and robbed of her diplomatic I-card and valuables by two persons who were travelling on a bike. The victim was robbed when she was traveling in an auto-rickshaw along with her husband. The couple tried to chase the biker but they could not catch up. A case was later registered with the Chankayapuri Police station of New Delhi area. Police are yet to make a breakthrough in the matter.