4 days ago
7
A 34-year-old domestic worker and her husband were allegedly detained and brutally beaten by the Varthur police after being accused of stealing a diamond ring from the house of a techie couple she worked for.
The woman was released only after a social activist intervened and demanded an explanation from the police.
The incident took place on October 30, when Sundari Bibi, a native of West Bengal and resident of a labour colony on Balagere Road, was summoned to the Varthur police station. Sundari, who had been working for the couple for the past three months, went to the station along with her husband, a garbage vehicle driver.
According to sources, the employers had accused Sundari of stealing a diamond ring after conducting a ‘sting’ — they allegedly dropped a ₹100 note on the floor to observe her reaction. The CCTV footage reportedly showed Sundari picking up the note, which she claimed she intended to return later. Based on the footage, the couple filed a complaint with the Varthur police.
Sundari said that as soon as she and her husband reached the station, they were allegedly detained and assaulted by seven police personnel, including four men and three women.
“I pleaded my innocence, but they kept beating me with lathis, calling me a Bangladeshi. Most of the abuses were in Kannada, which I could not understand,” she told The Hindu. Her husband was also allegedly assaulted for supporting her.
The screams from inside the police station reportedly drew the attention of nearby migrant workers, who alerted city-based social activist R. Kaleemulla. He called the station and confronted the officers about the incident. Following his intervention, the police released Sundari,.
Sundari was later taken to Bowring Hospital, where doctors registered a Medico-Legal Case (MLC).
“The police have no right to beat anyone, especially women, merely based on allegations. There are lawful methods to investigate and find the truth,” Mr. Kaleemulla said.
English (US) ·