Friday, January 25, 2013

Jan 25, 2013: Neighbour threatens woman with 'Nirbhaya fate', cops register NC

By , TNN | Jan 25, 2013, 12.55 AM IST
MUMBAI: A 48-year-old chartered accountant who complained to police of harassment from her neighbour over a parking space dispute in her building, was shocked when Mulund police told her they would register an FIR only in a case of molestation or something more serious. Police refused to file an FIR even though a day later the neighbor abused her publicly and threatened she 'would meet the same fate as Delhi's Nirbhaya' for complaining against him. On both occasions, police registered non-cognizable offences.

Mulund-resident Vanita Kangya went to the police station twice to complain against a computer engineer who lives in her building, Willow Twin Tower CHS at Vasant Garden, Mulund (west), and has allegedly been harassing and threatening her since 2010 over parking of their vehicles. The dispute worsened after he allegedly scratched and damaged her new car. She claimed he also warned her of his political connections. "As he was not ready to resolve the matter, nor listen to society members, I was forced to approach police for help. I was made to wait from 7pm to 10pm in the police station on Wednesday, after which police took down an NC instead of an FIR, though I told them the man threatened me with dire consequences. Worse, a policeman said they will take an FIR only in cases of molestation and more serious offences," Kangya told TOI on Thursday. Former IPS officer-turned-lawyer Y P Singh said the cops should not have spoken to her in such a manner. "Departmental action should be taken against those found guilty and they should be booked under IPC section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman)," said Singh.

On Thursday morning, learning that Kangya had filed an NC against him, the neighbour allegedly abused her before society members and security guards and threatened she would meet the same fate as Nirbhaya, whose brutal gangrape in Delhi in December 2012 and death spurred protests across the country. When Kangya went to the police station again on Thursday, she claimed police initially refused to take her complaint, but finally registered another NC when she threatened to approach the DCP. However, Singh said Thursday's incident was serious enough for police to have registered an FIR under section 294 of the IPC. Kangya claimed police told her unless there were three NCs against a person, it was not possible to register an FIR.

However, Mulund police senior inspector Jivajirao Jadhav refuted Kangya's claim. "We have taken down two NCs in the case. It is a civil matter and the person has to get in touch with society members to clear the problem between flat-owners in the building. The entire matter is over parking and was not a serious offence." He claimed both NCs, on January 23 and 24, were recorded promptly.

Jadhav that Kangya has claimed that some cops informed her that they lodge FIR only in cases of molestation and above which is serous, he said that it is wrong and the person is trying to misguide this paper. While Kangya said that the duty officer who took down the NC explained that they will take the FIR only after she lodges three NCs against the person mentioned in the NC. "Cops also said that it is a civil matter and should be handled by themselves and should not come to the police to get it resolve," she said.

Raja Salian, a managing committee member of the housing society, said, "We tried to resolve the problem and even gave enough space for the person to park his vehicle. For his benefit we realigned the parking place with more space to accommodate his car, but he continues to create a problem."
Link: Neighbour threatens woman with 'Nirbhaya fate', cops register NC

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