Forest Dept staffer arrested for harassing, assaulting woman

HASSAN: A member of the rapid response team (RRT) of the Forest Department has been arrested for waylaying and assaulting a young woman who was on her way to Sakleshpur in a car. The incident occurred at Agni village in Sakleshpur taluk.

The mother of the arrested Madan works as a domestic help in the house of one Veena. Madan somehow obtained Veena’s mobile phone number and started texting her. Following this, Veena had warned him and even blocked his number.

Provoked by this, Madan started calling Veena’s daughter Varshini, who works with a private company in Bengaluru, on the pretext of having received a missed call. He then started to repeatedly call Varshini and texting her also.

The mother-daughter duo who were harassed.

A few days ago, Varshini returned home as she was unwell, but Madan kept calling and texting her even as she was travelling by bus. On reaching home, Varshini narrated to her parents what had happened. The mother Veena then called Madan and warned him not to harass the daughter.

Angered by this, Madan stopped Varshini while she was heading to Sakleshpur by car near his house, tore her clothes, assaulted and manhandled her. The car driver immediately rushed to her rescue and Madan fled the scene.

Varshini then lodged a complaint with the Sakleshpur Rural police station following which he was arrested.