Five arrested so far for tying up woman to tree, assaulting her at Malpe fishing harbour

UDUPI: Five people have been arrested so far in connection with the assault another woman after tying her up to a tree at the Malpe fishing harbour a few days ago. A police head constable and a constable have also been suspended for dereliction of duty, according to Police Superintendent Dr Arun Kumar.

Three days ago, a woman allegedly stole expensive prawns from a fishing boat at the Malpe harbour. When questioned, she did not admit to stealing following which some women from fisherfolk families tied her to a tree and assaulted her.

The woman was later taken to the Malpe police station where she was questioned and she admitted to the theft and paid a fine. Udupi Deputy Commissioner Dr Vidyakumari had then said that it was not right to assault the woman for the petty crime. “Nobody went to her aid or tried to stop the assault, and instead, they stood there laughing. This sort of mentality is not good and such incidents should not recur”, she had said.

Police Superintendent Dr Arun Kumar had said that the victim was from Hoovinahadagali in Vijayanagar district who had been working at the fishing harbour for the last five years, and that videos of the assault had gone viral.

“One Lakshmibai assaulted the woman for stealing prawns and the latter was also tied to a tree. Four people, including Lakshmibai, Sundar and Shipla have been arrested and a case has been registered under different sections of BNS and under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act”.