BENGALURU: A shocking daylight assault on a woman in Kodigehalli has triggered widespread outrage after CCTV footage capturing the incident went viral, prompting swift action from the police. The victim, Chitrakala, was allegedly beaten, dragged by the hair and threatened with acid by her neighbour and his family after she objected to construction workers damaging her compound wall.
CCTV captures brutal assault in residential lane
The incident occurred on Friday, November 14, around 1 pm when Chitrakala confronted workers drilling into her boundary wall. Minutes later, CCTV footage shows accused Pavan Kumar, who is constructing a building next door, charging towards her in the lane, abusing her and pulling her by the hair. He then pushes her to the ground and kicks her repeatedly. According to the FIR, Monica, another accused, hit her with a rod during the assault. The footage also captured family members — Pavan’s mother Padmavathi, wife Bhaghya and father Rajendra — joining in, hurling abuses and attacking the woman. At one point, the family allegedly threatened to throw acid on her.
Victim alleges repeated intimidation and death threats
According to Chitrakala’s police complaint, the violence did not end with the first attack. When she questioned the workers again the following morning, Pavan allegedly threatened to stab her with a dagger kept in his vehicle, telling her that her “intestines would spill out”. He allegedly continued verbally abusing her and threatened to kill her when she was alone at home. The complaint states that multiple neighbours witnessed both the assault and the threats.
FIR registered against five accused
The Kodigehalli police have registered an FIR against Pavan Kumar, Padmavathi, Bhaghya, Rajendra and Monica under multiple sections relating to assault, criminal intimidation and threats involving acid. Police have confirmed that an investigation is under way and that statements from witnesses are being recorded. Officials said they are analysing additional CCTV footage from nearby homes to verify the sequence of events. Construction-related disputes are common in rapidly expanding Bengaluru neighbourhoods, but police said the level of violence seen in this case was “unusually severe”. Women’s rights groups have demanded stringent action, stating that threats involving acid must be treated with the highest seriousness.
Police step up monitoring as case draws attention
Senior officers said they have deployed beat personnel and increased patrolling in the area to prevent further escalation. The incident has sparked debate among residents about unregulated construction, land disputes and safety concerns in fast-growing localities on the city’s outskirts. As the investigation progresses, activists say the case will be a test of how Bengaluru police handle assaults involving gender-based violence and threats of acid attacks — crimes that carry heavy punishment under Indian law.