Muslim man assaults Hindu woman in public for refusing love proposal

HUBBALLI: Close on the heels of Neha Hiremath’s murder case, another similar case reported from the district. A Hindu woman has alleged that she was assaulted by a Muslim man in Keshwapur, Hubballi, on Monday.

Aftab Shirahatti, a fruit vendor near the Keshwapura traffic police station, allegedly assaulted her in public. Locals caught the man and handed him over to the police.

After recording the woman’s statement and filing a complaint, the police arrested the accused and produced him before the judge. The court has sent the accused to judicial custody for one week.

The case has taken a significant twist after she gave statements to the media earlier. The woman admitted, “I had known Aftab for two years. He has been after me for two years to love him, but it was friendship only between us. One of my Muslim girlfriends introduced me to Aftab. We knew each other since the time I was studying in PUC”.

“He gave me gifts on my birthday and Ramzan forcefully. But after the Neha case, I got scared. So I decided to end our friendship and informed Aftab of my decision. On Monday, he called and told me to come near his fruit shop.  I went to his shop and returned the gifts that he had given me”.

“He slapped me after burning the gifts in anger. The locals immediately intervened and took him to the police station. I told the police not to inform my family about the issue. Therefore, the police have registered a complaint of assault”, the woman added.

Locals demanded severe punishment for the accused. According to the statement of the locals, Aftab was holding a knife in his hand. On coming to know about the incident the family members of the woman have filed another complaint.