M’luru: Three including Asif ‘Apathbhandava’ arrested for physical assault on woman

Mangaluru: Three persons including Asif ‘Apathbandhava’ were arrested on the allegations of assaulting a woman and illegally confining her, police said on Sunday.

Mangaluru Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar told the media that a woman named Vanaja (40) of Shivamogga origin registered a complaint at the Woman Police Station in Mangaluru about the alleged assault and torture at Maimuna Foundation meted to her on March 30. The assault took place in Mulki Police station limits, he said.

Based on the complaint, social worker Mohammed Asif alias Asif Apathbhandava (39), Shivam alias Shivalinga (40), and Mohammed Afthab (32) have been arrested, he added.

The complainant lived alone in Mangaluru for the past 20 years. She had been employed in a mall but lost work during the Covid pandemic. Unable to pay the rent, she approached social worker Shivam at Pumpwell for help, who in turn introduced her to Asif. She was later admitted into the orphanage of Maimuna Foundation run by Asif at Mulki. She has been living there for the past one year.

As per the complainant, the then-manager-cum-warden of the orphanage Shashidhar was involved in financial irregularities and went absconding as the matter came to light. Asif, however, suspected Vanaja was also involved with Shashidhar and started mentally and physically torturing her, the complaint states.

The woman alleged that her possessions including her phone and valuables were confiscated by Asif.

On March 30, Asif asked Shivam to hit Vanaja to make her accept her involvement with Shashidhar. Following this, Shivam allegedly physically assaulted her using a chair, belt, and hands. In the assault, Vanaja’s left hand was broken, the complaint adds.

Asif also asked Vanaja to sign a false confession that she was involved in the crime and assaulted her with belt and a wicket, the complainant alleged and added that she was also issued death threats.

She was later taken to the hospital for treatment and was threatened not to reveal what had happened. At the hospital, Afthab, who was known to Asif, coached her to say that she received the injuries due to a fall. After receiving treatment, she was ordered to be confined in a room at the orphanage but escaped with the help of the ambulance driver, the complaint further stated.