Mangalore: Woman alleges man, police of mental harassment over property
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, May 12: A woman has alleged that with the help of police, a man has illegally began staying in her house for the past several days and has been mentally harassing her from many years.
Addressing a press meet here on Saturday May 11, Silvia Saldanha appealed to the media to help her get justice. She said that a man, identified as M Titus, has been constantly harassing her mentally for the past 10-15 years, and some days back, with the help of a policeman, had even began staying in her house illegally while she was forcibly made to vacate.
"For 40 years, I was a tenant of a house under Father Muller Charitable Trust (Kankanady 'B' gram, survey number 45.1). On June 13, 2003, I bought five cents at the same place and transferred it to my name. Only my daughter and I were staying in the house," she said.
"However, M Titus, who had rented a house nearby, claimed that the place I was staying at belonged to him, and since 2002 he has been constantly harassing me over this issue. He even brought the police and threatened me. On April 29, after I returned home from work, Kankanady circle inspector along with four other policemen came to my house and showed me a notice claiming that it was a court order. He even abused me verbally and did not even let me read the notice. The inspector said that as per the notice, the house belonged to Titus and told him to stay there," Silvia alleged.
"All my belongings were thrown out of the house and clothes were also burnt," she added.
"Titus tried to attach the survey number of his place, 117/1A1 and that of my house to Jeppinamogeru gram and approached the court in this regard. When the judgement was delivered in my favour, his harassment increased. Now with the help of inspector Ravish, he has started staying in my house illegally. For the past 10-12 days my daughter and I have been staying in the house of one Harishchandra Nayak," she said.
"The court notice, which was examined by my lawyer, only stated that police can give protection to those in 117/1A1 with door numbers 1-154 to 1-162. But 117/1A1 and the door numbers come under Jeppinamogeru and hence fall under the limits of Pandeshwar police. Therefore, how can Kankanady police interfere in the matter and barge into my house?" she questioned.
"I also approached Lokayukta in Bangalore, Human Rights Commission, Bangalore and the police commissioner, who sent me to the assistant police commissioner (ACP). The ACP told me that since it is a civil case, the court has to decide. However, as there is no case at all on my property there is no question of approching the court, she said.
Her daughter Sonia Saldanha and Harishchandra Nayak were present.
When contacted, the police inspector concerned told daijiworld that he had only acted as per the court notice.