Murthal is one destination Delhiites make impromptu travel plans to - be it for the long drive or for Sukhdev Dhaba's delicious food.

Women commuters are being harassed and even raped near Murthal in Haryana. Vehicles with women passengers were stopped on the National Highway 1 during the early hours of Monday, and women were dragged to nearby fields where they were raped, reports The Tribune.

The Haryana Police, however, dismissed the report as rumour, but eyewitnesses say at least 10 women were sexually assaulted. To make things worse, victims and their family members were advised by the district officials not to report the incident so as to safeguard their 'honour'.

The report throws more light on what exactly happened - 30-odd goons attacked commuters travelling towards Delhi-NCR, set their vehicles ablaze, pulled out women who couldn't flee the car, stripped them and raped. They laid nude in the fields till the time men who accompanied them could find them. The residents of Hassanpur and Kurad rushed to bring clothes and blankets for the victims.

A witness who wanted to keep his identity confidential told The Tribune, "Three women were taken to Amrik Sukhdev Dhaba and united with their families in the presence of senior police officers. They appeared lifeless. District officials who arrived there, instead of investigating the matter, persuaded the families to take the women home. Many were provided transport."

Sukhdev Dhaba was targeted by the goons and tried to set the eatery on fire, but were resisted by the villagers from Hassanpur and Kurad. These people have been camping at the dhaba since Sunday.

Elders from these villages, Hari Krishan of Kurad and Zile Singh of Hassanpur, said there is no point talking about the incident "as the police are sure to shield the criminals and nobody, not even the locals, are safe."

Another dhaba owner, Jai Bhagwan, said four women took refuge inside a water tank near his dhaba. Many victims say senior officers dissuaded them from complaining as "what happened can not be undone". A senior IPS officer rubbishes all this as rumours and requested media houses to refrain writing about these incidents.

Anuradha Beniwal, national chess champion, expressed her opinion about the ongoing Jat protests through a video, which has now gone viral. She introduces herself and says "My first coach was a Thakur and another a Saini. The coach who taught me the finer nuances of the game was from a family of goldsmiths. They did not ask me if I was a Jat or a Thakur, a Baniya or a Dalit. They only knew that I belonged to their own Haryana."

She speaks in fluent Haryanvi and appeals to all Haryanvis to end this "madness" and give up violence.

You can watch the video here:

