Bengaluru, India – In a disturbing incident in Bengaluru’s Sanjay Nagar, a woman was assaulted by her landlord’s brother right outside her apartment, police said Tuesday. The suspect, identified as Manjunath Gowda, reportedly attacked the woman as she was retrieving a parcel at her apartment complex.
The victim, who hails from West Bengal, recounted that the assault occurred late on the night of December 3rd. She described how Gowda, who seemed to be under the influence of alcohol, initially hurled verbal abuses at her and then escalated to physical violence.
The altercation intensified quickly, with Gowda allegedly hitting her on the forehead, as well as grasping and choking her to the point where she struggled to breathe. “He slapped me, choked me, and pinned me against the wall,” the victim reported to police, indicating the severity of the attack.
Authorities explained that as the woman tried to escape, Gowda bit her finger, causing injury, and attempted to drag her toward his residence. Her screams alerted nearby residents, and as she dashed towards her own flat, Gowda pursued her and continued his violent behavior in the stairwell. It was only due to the intervention of bystanders that the woman managed to break free from her attacker.
In a concerning twist, the following morning, the victim alleged that she found Gowda peering into her apartment through a window. When she confronted him, he not only threatened her once more but also demanded to be let into her apartment. The woman also claimed that this was not the first instance of inappropriate behavior from Gowda, mentioning past incidents of advances and arguments.
Responding swiftly to the victim’s complaint, Bengaluru police have filed an FIR against Manjunath Gowda. The case has brought to light issues regarding tenant safety and the relationships between landlords, their relatives, and tenants, sparking discussions among the local community.
This incident underscores a growing concern over the safety of women in urban areas and has prompted calls for stricter measures to ensure that tenants can live without fear of harassment or assault from individuals connected to their housing.
The local community and advocacy groups have stressed the importance of landlord accountability in such cases, suggesting that more thorough background checks and stricter controls on the behavior of landlords and their associates could help to prevent such incidents in the future. The case continues to be under investigation, with local authorities vowing to take all necessary steps to ensure justice for the victim.