Mumbai: Manipuri woman spat on, kicked, dragged by hair and molested

A 26yearold girl from Manipur who was assaulted molested kicked and dragged by her hair in Santacruz in public found no sympathy or assistance from onlookers or even the local police who ignored her request for an FIR and merely registered a noncognisable offence NC Even in that complaint the officer on duty made no mention of molestation even though she showed him her torn clothesAlso Read Caught on camera Shiv Sena worker held for assaulting molesting woman cop in ThaneAnjali Toijam name changed hails from Manipur but has been living in Mumbai for over five years working as a make up artist Anjali and her sister live in Kalinarsquos Kolivery village On Saturday Anjali stepped out with her friend around 630 pm when she was accosted by an unknown man near the Palm Villa society He first spat at her and when she objected he began to beat herThe woman left and her friend at the area where the incident happened in Kalinarsquos Kolivery village PicsSatej ShindeldquoHe hit me then kicked me in the abdomen When I tried to resist he molested me and tore my clothes He began to hit me again and I fell down Then he grabbed my hair and dragged me by it on the street for a few metresrdquo Anjali told midday as she pointed to the spot where it all happenedRead Story Woman with special needs molested in MaladHer friend tried to save her but the assailant pushed her aside No one else came to Anjalirsquos aid even though she cried for help ldquoI was shouting for help so that someone would come forward and stop the man who was beating me mercilessly but no one came forwardrdquo she addedAnjalirsquos sister said this is not the first time they have faced a lack of compassion as they are often discriminated against for their mongoloid features ldquoBecause of our NorthEast facial features people believe that we are from China or Nepal Because of this discrimination no one came to my sisterrsquos rescuerdquo she saidAnjali said that if a girl from any other community or state had been harassed people would have rushed to help but even the shopkeepers she would buy her daily necessities from did not help herldquoThis is inhumane and very painful After this incident my sister and I feel unsafe outside our home I no longer believe Mumbai is safe for woman It has become like Delhirdquo said AnjaliThey alleged that their community faces several attacks that go unreported because the victims want to avoid further trouble ldquoMost of the people from our community are illeducated and have come to city to work So they donrsquot report crimes to police to avoid further trouble but I believe not protesting such acts is also a crime We donrsquot care if that goon attacks us but we wonrsquot sit silently until he is caught and punishedrdquo said Anjalirsquos sisterInsult to injuryAfter the incident Anjali called the police control room but by the time the police arrived the man had fled She went to Vakola police station to lodge a complaint but experienced a second round of frustrationldquoI was in a traumatic state but narrated all the details to SubInspector Sanjay Pawar who was on duty requesting him to file an FIR I even showed him my torn clothes He gave me copy of the complaint and asked me to go home He told me that police would catch the culprit soon and added that if anything happened again I should go to the police station with the complaint copyrdquo said AnjalildquoI donrsquot understand Marathi so I did not know what was written in the complaint copy but assumed he had filed an FIR I was shocked when my sisterrsquos friend told me it was only an NC Later I figured out that he hadnrsquot even mentioned the entire crime in detail in the complaintrdquo she addedmidday confirmed that the complaint had only been registered under Sections 323 voluntarily causing hurt and 504 intentional insult of the IPC and not a single mention was made of molestation The short complaint said only that an unidentified man hit the woman and abused her verbally No mention was made of him spitting on her or dragging her by the hair or even tearing her clothesAnjali spent two days at home to recover from the mental and physical trauma she had sustained on her neck and arms In the meanwhile her molester continues to roam freeThe two sisters took help from the NorthEast community and the NGO My Home India to follow up with the police When the NGO representatives went to the police station they were informed that the accused had fled to Bangalore ldquoThe police are now trying to give us excuses and are not investigating the case the way they shouldrdquo alleged AnjaliBramhdev Atkari Maharashtra coordinator for My Home India which fights for the NorthEast communityrsquos rights said ldquoWe met the senior inspector at the police station and were informed that the accused had fled to Bangalore with the help of his family who claim he is mentally disturbed We told the police they should arrest him and have him medically examined instead of going by anyonersquos claimsrdquo