Obscene messages to minor trigger assault row, family accuses police of diluting case

Indore: A dispute over alleged obscene messages sent to a minor girl escalated into a violent assault on an entire family in Indore’s Aerodrome area, with the victims now accusing police of downplaying the case and registering only a minor assault offence despite serious allegations.Aerodrome police registered a case against a group of men following a complaint by a woman from Ambikapuri. The family later approached the DCP, alleging that the investigation had not adequately reflected the gravity of the incident.The woman told police that a youth sent obscene messages to her minor daughter on May 23. The woman said she, along with her husband and son, went to the accused’s house to question him about the messages.An argument broke out during the discussion, after which the youth became aggressive and started issuing threats. They claimed his father also arrived at the spot and joined the confrontation, leading to a physical assault.The complainant alleged that the accused attacked family members with wooden sticks, a cricket stump and fists. She said she and her minor daughter were also assaulted when they tried to intervene.The victim’s family alleged that the accused’s family wields influence in the locality and that the accused’s father is a govt employee. They claimed this resulted in police registering the FIR under lesser sections despite the allegations made in the complaint.The family also alleged that they faced pressure from the police during the course of the case.CCTV footage of the alleged assault has surfaced.DCP Narendra Rawat said that the matter was being investigated.