Mumbai: The neighbour of an elderly couple in Chembur allegedly abused and also tried to assault them, for taking care of stray dogs in the building compound last month. The police initially only registered a non-cognisable complaint in spite of an elderly woman being abused, and it was only when the couple approached the zonal Deputy Commissioner of Police that an FIR was registered last week.
The complainant, Kaidavallapil Valsan (80), is an advocate and lives in a housing colony in Chembur along with wife, Saroja, and son, Sanjeev. The couple regularly provide medical aid to injured stray dogs in their colony.
Mr. Valsan, has said in in his complaint that on May 12, Sanjeev, while on his way up to their third floor residence, saw a dog lying in the staircase. The dog had a large wound on his back, and Sanjeev tended its injuries. Around half an hour later, their neighbour K.V. Rajan, who stays on the second floor, came up to their house and started arguing with them loudly.
“It was completely unprovoked, and when we tried to calm him down he became even more aggressive and used abusive language with my parents. Everyone else was simply watching. He also picked up a plastic flowerpot kept near our door and threw it at my mother. She ducked just in time, but even this sudden movement could have caused her harm as she has undergone a spinal surgery,” Sanjeev said.
The Valsans subsequently approached the Tilak Nagar police, who only registered a non-cognisable complaint in the matter, and let Mr. Rajan off with a warning. Meanwhile, People For Animals, an organisation that works for animal welfare, learned about the incident and got in touch with the Valsan family.
“We first approached the police and asked them why they had only registered a non-cognisable complaint, and said to them they were taking the matter very lightly. We ultimately had to meet DCP Shahaji Umap, and only then was an FIR registered in the matter,” said Nirali Koradia, a member of PFA.
The Tilak Nagar police finally registered an FIR against Mr. Rajan on June 2, charging him with outraging a woman’s modesty and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code.
Mr. Umap confirmed that the Valsans had approached him in the matter.
“The incident warranted an FIR under Section 354 (assault or criminal force with intent to outrage a woman's modesty) of the Indian Penal Code, and I directed the Tilak Nagar police to act accordingly. No arrests have been made as yet. Action in the matter will be taken after investigations are complete,” Mr. Umap.
