Delhi Men assault woman her brother-in-law selling flowers over refusal to sell drugs

    New Delhi, Nov 12 (PTI) A woman selling flowers and her 15-year-old brother-in-law were assaulted with sticks and iron rods by a group of men in Hauz Khas. The assault occurred after she allegedly refused to sell marijuana on Diwali night, with her family claiming that members of a drug mafia had repeatedly threatened and attacked them, police said on Thursday.

     Six people, including Soni (35), a resident of Khadda Colony in Jaitpur, Usman Naushad (22), a resident of Om Nagar in Jaitpur, and four minors, were arrested, they said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said the incident occurred on the night of Diwali on November 8 and involved Radha (37), a resident of Sangam Vihar, and her brother-in-law.

     A purported video of the assault, which surfaced on social media, shows the woman sitting by the roadside in south Delhi when two men approach her and one of them allegedly starts beating her with a stick. When some people intervened, another man joined in and attacked them. The woman's family alleged that a person identified as Soni was pressuring them to sell marijuana and that the attack took place after they refused to comply.

     They also claimed that the family had been threatened with death and assaulted on previous occasions.

     Police said Naushad was previously involved in two criminal cases, including one registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Jaitpur police station in 2022 and another under the BNS at Badarpur police station in 2024. They said Soni was also previously involved in two cases registered under the NDPS Act, one at Hauz Khas police station in 2025 and another at Safdarjung Enclave police station in 2026.

     Aman, a family member, told PTI earlier that the incident took place around 3 am, when his sister-in-law, Radha, was making garlands alone while he slept.

     "They first asked where I was. By that time, another man came and started beating my sister-in-law. She became unconscious. When I woke up, they started beating me as well. I ran away and later went to a hospital for help," he said.

     Aman alleged that at least 10 men were involved in the attack and were armed with iron rods, sticks and knives. He claimed that he sustained injuries to his head and leg, while Radha suffered injuries to her head, back and legs. He said his brother was also injured.

     He alleged that the attackers had threatened to kill them if they refused to sell marijuana. According to him, the family had approached police several times after the incident but initially received no assistance.

     The family's lawyer claimed that they approached police four to five times and that medical examinations of Radha and her son were conducted, but no action was taken despite a complaint.

     "Even today, when I visited the police station, they told me to leave, saying they would handle the matter. Only after pressure mounted as the video went viral and media coverage increased did they agree to register a case. The SHO assured us of action," the lawyer said.

     He alleged that Radha had been assaulted on three occasions for refusing to sell drugs and that police had not properly investigated the matter despite several days having passed since the incident.

     Police registered a case under sections 74 (assault or the use of criminal force against a woman with the intent to outrage her modesty), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), 79 (words, gestures, acts, or intrusions intended to insult the modesty of a woman), 110 (Attempt to commit culpable homicide), 3(5) (Common intention) and 61(2) (Criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Hauz Khas police station.

     Police said as per the complainant's statement, the alleged assailants, who were relatives of the victims, arrived at the spot, assaulted both with sticks and fled after threatening them. Police said both injured persons were taken to Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital.

     A preliminary investigation revealed that the two parties were related and had previously quarrelled. Police said Soni is Radha's relative.

     They said further investigation is underway.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)