‘He Choked Me Until I Could Barely Breathe’: Woman Opens Up About Domestic Abuse

A 24-year-old marketer from Gurugram, Kushalini Paul collected her whole strength and took to LinkedIn to share her experience of domestic abuse. She revealed that her boyfriend, whom she met in Delhi two years ago, frequently assaulted her, especially when intoxicated. In a recent violent incident, he attempted to choke her. Fearing for her safety, she approached the nearest police station. However, she alleged that female officers dismissed her complaint and advised her to forgive him instead of filing an FIR.

Publicly Naming the Abuser Despite her trauma, Paul bravely identified the alleged assaulter as Soutik Ganguly, an employee at Atlys, a travel-focused software development company. She recounted that their relationship began on Instagram, where he initially seemed intriguing. However, when they met in person, he looked different from his photos. Over time, the relationship became toxic, filled with verbal insults and physical abuse.

Graphic Details of the Assault Paul described a particularly violent episode when Ganguly, intoxicated and enraged, attacked her. “He slapped me black and blue, pulled my hair, slammed my head into the wall, and kicked me,” she wrote. She tried to defend herself by tearing his shirt and biting his hand, but he overpowered her. “He choked me until I could barely breathe,” she added.

Shocking Threats and Control Even after the brutal assault, Ganguly showed no remorse. Instead, he left with a sinister warning: “Teri aukaat bhi nahi hai. Learn how to behave, if you try to leave, I will impregnate you and then marry you.” Paul mentioned that he grew even more furious after she told him she had secured admission to her dream university in Berlin. He demanded marriage and children, further asserting control over her life.

System Fails to Support Victims Paul expressed her deep disappointment with the system that failed to protect her. “Physically and mentally, I am in pain, my body covered in bruises. But I am more traumatized to see the system built to support men like this,” she wrote. She also highlighted the harsh reality that abusers often move on to new victims while survivors struggle with lifelong trauma.

Support Pours In from Netizens Her LinkedIn post quickly gained attention, with many users offering support and solidarity. “Your courage is incredible. Speaking out against abuse, especially in a society where victims are often blamed, takes immense strength,” one user commented. Another wrote, “You are brave to share this – and so sorry you had to go through this.”

Paul’s post has sparked discussions about abuse, victim-blaming, and the urgent need for better legal support for survivors. Her courage in speaking out has inspired many to raise awareness and demand justice.