12 April,2011 06:22 AM IST | | Imran Gowhar
Woman throws chilly powder at former army man to escape assault; reaches police station only to be advised not to file a complaint and to avoid legal issues
Sena Vihar, the abode of retired defence personnel turned into a veritable battle zone after a former army major allegedly tried to assault a woman over a trivial matter. Preeti (name changed), who works as PRO with a city-based MNC, complained that she was attacked by her neighbour, retired Major L M Diggis (64), and she resorted to throwing chilly powder at him to escape the assault. She alleged that he has been harassing her and her relatives and friends for some time and smashed her kitchen window and tried to break into the house, while abusing her for using the common utility space.
Attacked: Preeti alleged that Diggis smashed her kitchen window and
tried to break into the house, while abusing her for using the common
utility space. Representation pic
Hearing her cries for help, the neighbours came forward and advised her to call the police. Preeti claimed, "When I called the Banasawadi police seeking help, I was told to come to the station since they could not send any policemen due to a shortage of staff." After escaping from her apartment and reaching the police station, a senior police officer, she alleges, convinced her not to file a complaint and assured that he would counsel Diggis, but ultimately agreed to register a formal complaint. "The Banasawadi police advised me not to file a complaint and to avoid legal trouble. But there is a limit to everything and I decided to take the matter to its logical end," she told this reporter.
Not the first time
"I had approached the police several times earlier and even met the police commissioner during his public grievance meet. Despite assurances from him and the local police to resolve the issue, the harassment continued unabated," she alleged. Preethi said that she also complained to the society, but nothing has been done so far, since they maintain that she is a tenant in the society and the Major is not.The Banasawadi police have taken up an assault and criminal intimidation case against the accused and are investigating. We have summoned the Major to explain his side before initiating further action, the police said. Meanwhile, Diggis was unavailable for comment.
