TOI
 
Bangalore June 24: This cop terrorised his wife and her parents, assaulted them, opened fire and fled with cash on Sunday night. Anil Kumar (31), sub-inspector attached to the Chennammanakere Achchukattu police station, was married to Roopa (28) three years ago. They have one son, Ritwik.

At 11.30 pm on Sunday, Anil went to his in-laws' house on Rajiv Gandhi Road in Jaraganahalli. Roopa, who was staying with her parents, was terrified. She had reason to be. On June 13, he had tried to smother her with a pillow. On her motherin-law's advice, she moved to her parents' house on June 14. Anil soon picked a quarrel and started beating her. When Roopa's parents tried to intervene, he assaulted his father-in-law and sister-in-law, Deepa. He bit his brother-in-law Manjesh's hand.

Then he went berserk: he opened two rounds of fire from his 9-mm service pistol. The bullets struck a sofa and a wall.

Not content with the mayhem he created, he called a gang of six rowdies who barged into the house, assaulted the members and ransacked the house. Anil and the rowdies opened the wardrobe and took away Rs 5,000. At 1.45 am, all of them fled the place. According to Roopa's relatives, Anil flew into rages frequently harassing her for dowry. DCP (South) S Ravi said: "Lack of love and trust might have probably resulted in him taking this extreme step." Anil has since been suspended.

Police have taken up cases of rioting, causing hurt, dacoity, attempt to murder and dowry harassment under various sections of the IPC against Anil.

Roopa Repeatedly Complained About Torture

Bangalore: Three years ago, food inspector Nagalingaiah was delighted that he had found a responsible groom for his daughter Roopa. He gave her hand in marriage to Anil Kumar, then a sub-inspector with Subramanyapura police station. Anil hails from Gottigehalli in Harohalli, just three kilometres from Nagalingaiah's village. Like any bride, Roopa entered her marital home dreaming of a blissfully happy life. Little did she think she would be harassed and beaten up for not bringing enough dowry.

On Sunday night, Nagalingaiah got a glimpse of the dark side of his son-inlaw, who created havoc and threatened family members. Despite several complaints from Roopa against Anil, her parents were tight-lipped all along, fearing that approaching him would ruin her life.

Roopa's maternal uncle Krishna told TOI: "Anil was in the police department, and we were under the impression that he would keep our Roopa happy. Soon, we came to know that she was being tortured and harassed for dowry. We spent lavishly on the marriage and also gave him a 30x50 plot. For two years, he was residing in Roopa's house; it was only in November that they shifted to the police quarters in Mico Layout. She often complained that he beat her up and tortured her for dowry."

Roopa suffered more than just harassment and excruciating beatings. Anil smothered his wife with a pillow over an argument. When Roopa's mother-in-law, who had come to stay with the couple, found out about this, she advised her to return to her parents' home. Having had enough, Roopa did so on June 14.

"He came to take her back when the couple had a fight. Following this, he started to beat her and the family. He called six rowdies and used foul language. He also threatened to ruin her sister Deepa's life if a complaint was lodged," says Roopa's aunt.

The family has lodged a dowry harassment complaint against Anil, who is absconding.