Targeted as I'm an outsider: Assam woman lawyer alleges assault in Delhi

An Assamese woman lawyer practising in Delhi was allegedly assaulted by a group of people in central Delhi’s Prasad Nagar area amid an ongoing dispute between two groups over a property, police said on Saturday.

A purported video of the incident has surfaced on social media, showing the woman in tears and distress. In the video, the woman claimed that her client’s rival group targeted her because she is an “outsider” in Delhi. She also claimed that she was assaulted in the presence of police personnel who did not take any action against the assailants.

“My client had a programme scheduled for tomorrow. They (the rival group) wanted to spoil it, and that is why they created a major ruckus. They targeted me because I am an outsider in Delhi, while they are local goons,” the woman was heard telling someone over the phone.

During the scuffle, the woman also alleged that members of the other group used racial slurs against her. According to a report by PTI, the members allegedly questioned why people from the Northeast should come to Delhi for work.

In tears, the woman was also seen appealing to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. “Our CM says Delhi is safe for everyone. Is this the safety of Delhi, where a group of men targets a woman lawyer?” she said.

She further added, “The Prime Minister says, ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (Save daughters, educate daughters). How will daughters educate themselves if an incident like this happens?”

WHAT DO THE POLICE SAY?

According to the police, the woman lawyer was representing a person identified as “Dollar Baba”, who is involved in the property dispute. The dispute between the two groups is currently being contested over a property in the Prasad Nagar area.

The woman has filed a complaint alleging that she was molested during the incident. Police said they are registering an FIR based on her complaint under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

A parallel complaint has also been filed by the other group involved in the property dispute. The complaint alleges assault, following which a cross-FIR has been registered against the first group, police said.

Further investigation into the incident is underway.