Ullal: A shocking incident in which a woman, who is also a Congress worker and former gram panchayat member, was allegedly assaulted with a beer bottle occurred at a church hall in Pajiru village under the jurisdiction of Konaje police station. Though a case has been registered in connection with the incident, the accused is yet to be arrested and is reportedly absconding, triggering allegations of police negligence and demands for stricter legal action.
Incident during Ros ceremony
The incident took place on the night of January 6 at the Pajiru Church Hall, where a Ros (post-funeral prayer) ceremony was being held. The victim has been identified as Sunita Lobo, a former member of the Pajiru Gram Panchayat and an active Congress worker. The accused, Valerian D’Souza, is also a resident of Pajiru village.
According to the complaint, Sunita Lobo had gone to attend the ceremony along with her family members. During the gathering, an argument reportedly broke out between Sunita and Valerian over a minor issue involving physical contact. What initially began as a verbal exchange allegedly escalated into a violent confrontation.
Beer bottle assault caught on CCTV
It is alleged that during the altercation, Valerian D’Souza picked up a beer bottle and assaulted Sunita Lobo. CCTV footage from the church hall has reportedly captured the incident, showing the accused holding bottles in both hands and attacking the woman.
Due to a severe blow to her forehead, Sunita Lobo reportedly collapsed at the spot after losing consciousness. She was immediately shifted to a hospital, where she remained under treatment for nearly a week. The incident caused panic among those present at the ceremony.
Counter-assault and complaint
Following the assault on Sunita Lobo, her husband and son, who were present at the venue, allegedly retaliated and assaulted Valerian D’Souza. Subsequently, Valerian lodged a counter-complaint at the Konaje police station, which has also been registered by the police.
Both complaints are currently under investigation, and police officials have stated that the matter involves allegations and counter-allegations arising from the same incident.
Accused evading arrest, victim alleges negligence
Sunita Lobo has alleged that despite the seriousness of the attack and the availability of clear CCTV footage, the police have failed to take decisive action. She claimed that Valerian D’Souza has been evading arrest for the past ten days by moving between different hospitals after also sustaining injuries during the altercation.
She further alleged that the police have not registered a case of attempt to murder, even though she was attacked with a beer bottle on her head, which resulted in her losing consciousness. According to her, the delay in arrest and the absence of stringent charges point to a lenient approach towards the accused.
Political rivalry and past enmity alleged
Sunita Lobo stated that there has been longstanding enmity between her family and that of the accused. She alleged that Valerian D’Souza had earlier sought a Congress ticket for his wife to contest the Pajiru Gram Panchayat elections. When this did not materialise, he allegedly fielded his wife as an independent candidate in an attempt to defeat her.
Sunita Lobo won the election in 2015, and she claimed that Valerian bore resentment over the defeat. Since then, she alleged, he has repeatedly picked fights with her family over trivial issues in an attempt to settle personal and political scores.
Mahila Congress seeks strict action
The Ullal Mahila Congress has strongly condemned the assault and described it as an attack on a woman and an elected public representative. Members of the organisation met the Police Commissioner and submitted a memorandum demanding the immediate arrest of the accused and the invocation of stringent legal provisions.
A complaint has also been submitted to the Women’s Commission, seeking intervention in the matter.
Women’s Commission questions police action
Women’s Commission Chairperson Nagalakshmi Chowdhary has reportedly objected to what she described as a lenient approach by the police. She questioned why a case of attempt to murder had not been registered despite CCTV footage allegedly showing the woman being attacked with a beer bottle.
She reportedly sought an explanation from the police and emphasised the need for strict and timely action in cases involving violence against women.
Conclusion
The incident has sparked outrage among political circles and women’s organisations, raising serious questions about law enforcement and the handling of cases involving violent assaults. With the accused still at large and demands growing for stronger charges, the case is likely to remain under public scrutiny until decisive action is taken and accountability is ensured.