Woman dragged out of her house, partially disrobed by group of women in Belagavi

BELAGAVI: A woman was dragged out of her house, partially disrobed and manhandled by a group of women based on allegation that she was indulging in prostitution. Her daughter was also targeted by the women. Nearly a week later, the police registered an FIR after the intervention of the police commissioner and three people have been arrested.

The victim and her family members narrated their woes to Belagavi police commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang on Saturday.

On Monday evening, a group of women pulled the victim out of her house, manhandled and partially disrobed her and even targeted her daughter at a residential locality in Malmaruti police limits. Some locals intervened and dispersed the women. Following this, the woman, her daughter and granddaughter visited the police station and lodged a complaint.

Local MLA Asif Sait also visited the family.

However, the police allegedly called both parites, lambasted them and even threatened the victims, but did not register a case. When the victims got no relief even after making two-three visits to the police station, they approached Police Commissoner Iada Martin Marbaniang who directed the jurisdictional police to register an FIR on Friday. Three people, Indira Ashtekar, Hoovamma Ashtekar and Manikanta Ashtekar have been arrested in this connection.

On receiving information, local MLA Asif Sait and DCP Rohan Jagadish visited the victims on Saturday. Residents of the locality told the MLA that the incident was a result of personal animosity and that locals had nothing to do with it. The MLA told them that the law will take its own course.

Police Commissioner Iada Martin Marbaniang, who also visited the victims, told Public TV that action will be taken against the attackers. “Three people have been arrested and security has been provided at the residence of the victim. The investigating officer will be changed and the case will be handed over to an ACP. We will also conduct an inquriy into why an FIR was not registered earlier and take action if there is any laxity on the part of the officials”, he added.