Man held for molesting State women sent to PC
Source: The Sangai Express / Press Trust of India

New Delhi, February 03 2014: A man arrested for allegedly beating and molesting two Manipuri women while hurling racist abuses at them here was today sent to one-day police custody by a Delhi court.

Accused Prem Chand was arrested yesterday and was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Dheeraj Mor who handed him over to Delhi police for custodial interrogation till tomorrow.

The incident, which occurred in Kotla Mubarakpur area on January 25 evening, came to light following an uproar over the death of a student from Arunachal Pradesh Nido Tania who was assaulted by shopkeepers on January 29 .

While seeking three days remand of Chand, the police told the court that the women in their complaint had informed them that the accused have snatched their mobile phone while assaulting them.

The agency said Chand's custody was necessary to recover the stolen property and they also need to arrest the other persons involved in the crime.

Advocate Vinod Gupta, representing the accused, however, opposed the police's plea saying the complainants have never spoken to the police about the stolen mobile.

"It's an after-thought story just to implicate Chand," the counsel said, adding the alleged victims disclosed this fact later in another supplementary complaint.

Facing criticism over "delay" in lodging an FIR and alleged inaction, police arrested 32-year-old Chand from Kotla Mubarakpur area here, seven days after the incident.

Police have booked Chand under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) dealing with section 323 (Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 352 (Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) read with 34 (common intention) and section 3 (11) of SC/ST Act.

According to police, the two women were beaten up by a group of men who were in their late 20s.One of the victims, who worked at a shopping mall, had gone to buy Manipuri herbs from a shop, owned by her acquaintance from north-eastern region, at around 9.30 PM on the day.

When she reached the shop, a youth came with a pet dog.

As the stretch, in which the shop was situated, was reportedly narrow, the leash of the dog got entangled with the woman's shoes.

She got frightened and in panic kicked the animal to get rid of it, according to the compliant.

While the dog fled from the spot, the youth started arguing with the woman, after which her friend, who is the shopowner, also intervened.

Around this time, Chand, the owner of the dog, also came to the spot and the argument turned violent.

Chand, along with some locals, started beating both the women.

The women were reportedly not only thrashed but also molested in full public view.

Locals also allegedly hurled lewd and racist remarks at the victims.

The two victims alleged none of the locals came to help them and when they reached the police station to lodge an FIR, policemen were initially reluctant to register a case.

Meanwhile, one of their male companions' statement was recorded before a magistrate here.

The girls' statement will be recorded tomorrow.

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