A Delhi University (DU) student from the Northeast was allegedly molested by her landlord on Sunday evening at her rented accommodation in South Delhi, police said. The accused has been arrested and a case registered against him at RK Puram police station.
The woman, who hails from Manipur, lives in a rented house in Mohammadpur village, Bhikaji Cama Place, near RK Puram with her older sister, police said. While she is a student at DU, her sister works at a private firm.
According to police, they received a call from the woman at 5 pm on Sunday. ?In her complaint, she said the accused ?misbehaved? with her and ?took advantage? of her. We have arrested the landlord, Mahender Singh (45). A case of molestation and attempt to rape (Section 354), criminal intimidation (506), criminal tresspass (441) and the SC/ST Act has been registered,? Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) BS Jaiswal said.
Police said the accused claimed the woman called police after a ?minor argument? between them. He told police that the woman wanted to switch on a pump when an argument broke out between them. Annoyed, she made a PCR call, alleging she had been molested, the accused claimed.
M Patton, a volunteer working with the North East Helpline, who was present at the police station with the woman, said she had moved into the house a few months ago and alleged the accused had harassed her on at least four other occasions.
?The sisters told us that the landlord would often enter their rooms without prior information. On Sunday, he came to their house in an inebriated state around 5 pm and forced open the door. The sisters started shouting for help and called neighbours. But when nobody came to their assistance, they managed to lock themselves in another room. The landlord kept shouting that they are girls and that too from Northeast, so they can?t do much. The victim then contacted some of her friends and Northeast volunteers, who rushed to their help,? Patton said.
After help arrived, the woman made a PCR call. She and her sister are being counselled by Delhi Police?s women?s counselling cell.
?They are scared? Their parents have been calling them, asking them to leave their studies and jobs and return to Manipur. It is natural for parents to worry about the safety of their daughters,? Patton said.
Asserting that police extended full cooperation in the matter, Patton said the appointment of Northeast representatives by the Delhi Police has been a positive step. ?The NE representatives appointed by police work as Quick Response Teams. In this case too, they were the ones to first reach the spot and intervene,? he said.
