by Zafar Aafaq
NEW DELHI: An argument between a landlady and her tenant ended up the former calling the latter a ‘terrorist’ just because the tenant, a girl student, happens to be from Kashmir.
The argument between the two was over “trespassing” and “rent dispute” at a flat in South Delhi’s East of Kailash neighbourhood which comes under Amar Colony police station. The incident happened at around 8 pm on Wednesday.
Noor Bhat, belonging to Srinagar in Kashmir, told Clarion India that the landlady calling her a terrorist hurt her deeply. A recent pass out of Amity University, Noor alleged that the landlady barged into her flat in her absence and took out her furniture and other belongings including her passport and clothes.
Shortly after the incident, Noor posted a series of tweets on social media narrating her ordeal. The tweet instantly went viral as people came out in her support.
Noor said she was at her cousin’s place in Kalkaji when she got a call from the landlady who alerted her that there has been a robbery in the building and that she should come home.
But moments later, Noor again got another call from the landlady and this time she told her, “It is not robbery but we have broken the door of your flat and taken out the furniture and other stuff.”
A shocked Noor reached her flat only to find that the door was actually broken and her belongings were missing. The first thing she did was to video record the scene and call the police.
In the meanwhile, the landlady came in with a constable. A man, stranger to Noor, also accompanied her. “We told her you are our landlady, we would speak with you only. Send this man first,” Noor said. At this, the landlady allegedly started verbal abuses using racial, political and ethnic slurs. “You are a terrorist, you spread terrorism. Your father is a terrorist. Mulle Kashmiri,” Noor quoted her as shouting at her.
Mulle is a pejorative term for Muslims in India.
The landlady also grabbed Noor by her shoulder and gave scratches on her body and yanked her hair, Noor alleged.
“I was deeply hurt by this behaviour,” she said alleging, “It looked like a hate crime.”
THIS IS WHAT SHE DID!!! pic.twitter.com/DRkP5B8Q5O
— Noor (@noorbhat1998) October 14, 2020
Clarion India’s attempts to reach out to the landlady to get her version did not mature.
Clarion India spoke with the Special House Officer of Amar Colony police station. The SHO downplayed the incident saying a dispute between the two sides has been going on for some days. It’s related to non-payment of dues, according to him. He said that they have heard the complaint but have not filed an FIR. “We have asked both parties to come to the police station on Thursday morning. We will hear them and then proceed.”
Noor said she has cleared all the dues until last month and she can prove it with documents. “The rent is transferred through bank account and electricity bills through BSES,” she said.
Noor said that she was grateful for the support she got on social media after her tweet went viral. She said when she posted the tweet she did not know that it was going to attract such a huge response. “I would not have posted it on Twitter if she had not called me a terrorist. I thought people should know it and I am glad for the support I received.”
This is her and the man. She threatened me that she will burn my face with the cigarette she was smoking and she told me she would throw me from the balcony pic.twitter.com/cuwTp3963g
— Noor (@noorbhat1998) October 14, 2020
Nasir Khuehami, spokesperson of the Jammu and Kashmir Students Association (JKSA) condemned the incident as he said that the association is ready to assist the victim in every possible way. He also said that discrimination against Kashmiri students living in Indian cities must stop.
DCW Chief @SwatiJaiHind issues notice to Delhi Police in the matter of alleged assault and harassment with a Kashmiri girl in Delhi.
दिल्ली महिला आयोग @SwatiJaiHind ने दिल्ली में रहने वाली एक कश्मीरी लड़की के साथ हुई मारपीट के मामले में दिल्ली पुलिस को नोटिस इशू किया। pic.twitter.com/XrwhffVDM5
— Delhi Commission for Women – DCW (@DCWDelhi) October 15, 2020
Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal, took suo-moto cognizance of the matter and issued a notice to the Delhi Police. She said through a tweet that the police is being asked to file FIR and take action against the culprits.
Meanwhile, Police has registered a case on the allegations made by the woman and have started an investigation, reported news agency IANS.
Noor Bhat has given a written complaint and a case u/s 448/380/457/323/509 IPC has been registered at PS Amar Colony and the same is being investigated,” said R.P. Meena, DCP South East.
The landlady too filed a police complaint, which is also being looked into, said the officials.
(This report was lifted from ClarioIndia website)
