Bengaluru, 21 May

A 20-year-old college student has alleged that a man molested and attempted to rape her during a party here, and later he and his associates assaulted her friends and threatened them with dire consequences, police said on Thursday.

The survivor, a native of Kerala, was working part-time at acafe here, they said.

In the complaint, the woman alleged that the incident took place on the night of 11 May after she and others finished work and attended a party hosted by the owner of the cafe. The incident occurred in the Madiwala area of the city.

The complainant alleged that when the owner of her cafe, who is also a friend, went out to get some food with another friend, one of the accused, identified as Hainas, who was under the influence of alcohol, behaved inappropriately with her, forcibly dragged her and attempted to rape her.

She further alleged that he held her hands and touched her private parts before two friends intervened and rescued her.

In a video statement, the woman alleged that she repeatedly resisted the accused and clearly told him "no". "He forcibly did sexual activity. He tried to rape me. He literally pulled out all my dresses," she alleged. She further claimed that when her friends intervened, the accused allegedly turned aggressive and threatened them. "He threatened us with a beer bottle that he would kill all of us if we called anyone for help or informed the police," she alleged in the statement.

According to the FIR, the accused later allegedly threatened the complainant and her associates with a liquor bottle, warning that they would be killed.

The survivor further stated that when she and others approached the police station around 12.30am on 12 May to lodge a complaint, some accused persons again allegedly threatened them outside the station.

The woman also alleged in her video statement that she was not supported during the initial complaint process. "I truly believe that I deserve justice. This is not just a conflict between individuals. This is a case of a girl who was molested and forcefully pushed into sexual activity without her consent," she said.

The FIR also stated that on 14 May, an associate of the accused, identified as Suresh along with around nine unidentified persons, allegedly loitered near the complainant's workplace, causing fear. Subsequently, on 15 May, the complainant was informed that Suresh and a group of unidentified persons had allegedly attacked her acquaintances at their residence, causing them severe injuries, it added.

The woman further alleged that because of repeated threats, she left Bengaluru and returned to Kerala fearing for their safety. "They threatened us so many times. We got afraid and came to Kerala because we thought we would be safer there," she said in the video statement.

One of the survivor's friend, who was allegedly assaulted by the associates of the prime accused, said they fear for their lives as Hainas, who deals in real estate, is influential locally. "He (Hainas) threatened us with dire consequences. We are living in fear. He sent his associates to our homes. They threatened and assaulted us so brutally that we were severelyinjured. We are living in fear every day. All we need is justice for our friend," he claimed.

Following the survivor's complaint, a case was registered against the accused and his associates on May 18 under Sections 115(1) (voluntarily causing hurt), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous means/weapons), 62 (attempt to commit rape), 64 (punishment for rape), 74 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 351(1) (criminal intimidation) and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a senior police officer said, adding that further investigation is underway.