Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SP)
Beltangady, Jul 31: A complaint stands registered in Dharmasthala police station against a Mahindra pick-up truck driver, who allegedly hit his vehicle against an auto rickshaw at Neriya purposefully, dragging out the women passengers inside the auto, and sexually harassing them. The incident happened on the evening of Monday July 30.
After this news spread, hundreds of people had assembled at the spot. The situation turned tense, after which the police arrested a local pick-up driver named B J Thomas, a resident of Gandibagilu.
Reportedly Thomas was drunk when he was driving his pick-up. He is said to have caused his vehicle to hit against an auto rickshaw in which two sisters were travelling. In this accident, driver of the auto rickshaw, Sathish, was injured.
In the complaint, the women passengers inside the three-wheeler, who reportedly belong to scheduled community, said they were attacked and after misbehaving with them, Thomas escaped. Thomas is said to have dragged the girls outside the three-wheeler, bit them in their temple, body, and hand. He bit the lips of one of the girls so hard that she started bleeding.
An auto rickshaw driver who came to the rescue of the ladies was also beaten up. The girls, it is said, were returning home after working at Ujire by auto rickshaw after reaching Aniyoor by bus. The auto rickshaw driver called the Dharmasthala police and informed them about the misdemeanours of the pick-up truck driver.
Both the injured were admitted into hospital. Hundreds of people including representatives of Dalit communities congregated at the spot. A protest was also held under the leadership of Sangh Parivar outfits, which gave rise to tense situation.
Local MLA, Harish Poonja, visited the spot and pacified the aggrieved families. He instructed the police to take stringent action against the accused.
It is learnt that Thomas used to harass the two sisters aged 20 and 18 even in the past and they had filed police complaint. The girls allege that Thomas was angry at this complaint and therefore tried to rape and kill them by causing the said accident.
Bantwal assistant superintendent of police and senior police officials visited the spot and guided the investigation. The situation is stated to be under control.