A woman in Bengaluru has taken to social media to share her harrowing experience of being brutally assaulted and threatened by her landlord’s brother, alleging delayed police action despite filing complaints and presenting video evidence of the attack.
The incident happened on December 3, 2024, when the landlord’s brother, identified as Manjunath Gowda, allegedly assaulted the woman after months of harassment.
“On the morning of December 3, he approached me through my window, insisting I open the door and talk. When I politely refused, he seemed visibly upset. That night, I went downstairs to hand over a parcel to a delivery person. The landlord, heavily drunk, confronted me, demanding to know why I didn’t speak to him earlier. He blocked the building gate and said, "Who the hell are you to show me attitude while staying in my house?" the woman detailed in her tweet.
He attacked her when she refused to engage with him, slapping her, pulling her hair, and choking her. She recounted how he banged her head against a wall and attempted to drag her toward his house while making lewd comments. The accused’s father reportedly did nothing to stop the assault.
“He slapped me with full force, pulled my hair, and choked me on the staircase, banging my head against the wall multiple times until I blacked out,” she wrote.
She added that while dragging her to his house, the accused said: “Come now, I will show you what I can do to you," while holding his genitals and saying things like, "You talk too much, I will put this in your mouth."
Her friend, who intervened during the assault, was also attacked and allegedly thrown down the stairs but managed to record part of the incident. An FIR was filed and while the man has been arrested now, the woman claims the police response was slow and inadequate.
The accused allegedly returned to the building on December 5, threatening her and her friend, saying, “I will vanish you from this earth, and even the police won’t do anything to me.” She also added that Gowda claimed his father was formerly in the police and hence, no action will be taken.
“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,” she wrote.
Videos shared on X show deep injuries on the woman’s neck, finger, arms and shoulders. A short clip in dim lighting also shows the assault with the woman’s friend trying to fend of the attacker as she tried to leave the spot.
The woman, who today again posted a video appealing for justice, described the traumatic aftermath of the assault. She accused the family of attempting to malign her character by spreading false allegations and societal judgment focusing on her tattoos rather than the crime committed against her.
In her video, she stated, “Whenever someone fights a woman, their first weapon is to destroy her character. But I believe in the fairness of the people of Karnataka. This fight is not just mine; it is for every woman who has been silenced or shamed.”
She also appealed to not make it about North or South and while speaking a few sentences in Kannada stressed that the people of the state have been helpful and kind to her since she moved to the city many years ago.
Despite sharing evidence, including videos, photos, and witness accounts, she alleged that police action was only taken after her story gained traction on social media. Bengaluru police confirmed Manjunath's arrest and in response to her tweet said the matter is being investigated.
Bengaluru City Police tweeted, “We have forwarded your complaint to concerned officers for necessary action.”
She also added that the accused reportedly has an ongoing attempt-to-murder case.
The woman has temporarily left her residence, citing safety concerns, while demanding justice and the recovery of her Rs 2 lakh deposit.
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“Now, random men on scooters are loitering near my balcony, staring or standing for hours, adding to my fear. I’ve temporarily left for a friend’s place but need to recover my Rs 2 lakh deposit and ensure the landlord is held accountable before leaving for good,” she wrote.
With her tweets and videos, she also attached the complaint copy submitted to the police against the landlord. The incident happened at Planetvista Apartments in the city.
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