A chilling incident of assault has sent shockwaves through Bengaluru, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by renters in the city. A 26-year-old woman, originally from West Bengal, residing in a rented apartment in Sanjay Nagar, has accused Manjunath Gowda, the brother of her landlord, of a brutal attack on December 3rd. The incident, which has been widely shared on social media, details a terrifying escalation of violence and harassment.
The ordeal began when Gowda, reportedly intoxicated, confronted the woman at her apartment gate. He aggressively demanded to speak with her, escalating the situation with verbal abuse before physically assaulting her. According to the victim’s account, Gowda slapped her forcefully, pulled her hair, and choked her on the staircase. He then pinned her against a wall, repeatedly banging her head until she lost consciousness. The sheer brutality of the attack is deeply disturbing.
The assault took a horrifying turn when Gowda allegedly attempted to drag the woman into his apartment, biting her finger in the process. During the struggle, he reportedly made lewd comments and issued explicit threats, exposing himself and menacingly stating, “Come now, I will show you what I can do to you.” He further threatened, “You talk too much; I will put this in your mouth.” A friend who intervened was also assaulted by Gowda, who threw him down the stairs. Remarkably, parts of the incident were recorded by the victim and her friend, providing crucial evidence for the police investigation.
The nightmare didn’t end there. The following morning, Gowda was seen peering into the woman’s apartment through the window. He renewed his threats, demanding entry and claiming immunity due to his father’s alleged connections within law enforcement. He chillingly asserted, “I will vanish you from this earth; even the police won’t do anything to me.” This blatant disregard for the law underscores the severity of the situation and the victim’s legitimate fear for her safety and life.
The woman, expressing her profound fear and trauma in a social media post, stated, “His words and actions led me to strongly believe that earlier he intended to rape me and now he wants to murder me. I have hurt his male ego.” Her account has sparked a wave of outrage and demands for justice.
While some neighbours have offered a contrasting perspective, suggesting the woman often hosted late-night parties and that the landlord had previously requested she vacate due to noise complaints, this does not in any way justify the violent and horrific assault she endured. The focus should remain on the brutal attack and the need for accountability.
Following the complaint, Bengaluru police acted swiftly, registering an FIR against Manjunath Gowda and subsequently arresting him. The case is currently under investigation, with authorities probing the serious allegations of assault, sexual assault, and death threats. The victim, temporarily residing with a friend due to safety concerns, is demanding justice and the return of her ₹2 lakh security deposit. The incident raises critical questions about tenant safety, landlord responsibilities, and the need for stricter measures to prevent such violence in the future. The investigation is ongoing, and the city awaits the outcome with bated breath, hoping for justice for the victim.
