Daijiworld Media Network - Kadaba (SP)

Kadaba, Feb 7: The incident in which a woman had come under acid attack at the hands of her late husband's elder brother has taken a curious turn. A report by the deputy superintendent of police (DySP) on the matter has charged the Kadaba police of failing to act upon earlier complaints and hence being guilty of dereliction of duty.

Puttur subdivision DySP, Dinakar Shetty, in a report submitted to the superintendent of police, B M Laxmi Prasad, has said that although the distressed woman, Swapna, was being harassed by accused Jayanand Kottary frequently, the police had failed to act against him. Based on the report, departmental inquiry and disciplinary action are likely to be taken against the erring policemen.

Initially, it was claimed that land and the financial dispute had given rise to acid attack. The charges of illegal entry, abusing with the purpose of disturbing peace, death threat and acid attack alone had been mentioned in the first information report (FIR). Now the FIR has been revised by including section 509 of Indian Penal Code pertaining to outraging the modesty of women and section 354 pertaining to the attempt of sexual atrocity.

During the January 23 acid attack by Jayanand Kottary on Swapna, Swapna had suffered serious injuries, while her two-year-old child which she was holding that time, was also injured. Several organizations have found fault with Kadaba police and they have been demanding action against the accused. Many leaders including Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister and deputy commissioner had met the injured lady at the Mangaluru hospital where she is undergoing treatment. They also had directed the concerned to conduct a detailed inquiry.

The SP had asked the DySP to look into the matter and submit a report. The DySP obtained a statement from the lady after she was shifted from the intensive care unit to the ward.

The affected lady had approached the police a number of times seeking protection from her brother-in-law's tortures. She also had given details of torture she was undergoing, but the police had not done anything to help her, it is said. They were found fumbling even in preparing the inquest process after the acid attack. It is learnt that the DySP report mentions that before the acid attack, the accused used to pester the lady to agree to have sex with him.