Mangaluru: A death threat issued to a Hindu nurse through WhatsApp after she complained against a Muslim man has triggered concern over the safety of women in Dakshina Kannada district. The case has also raised questions over the response of the hospital that employed the women, after two nurses were reportedly removed from service following the complaint.
The incident comes shortly after the murder of a young woman at a bus stand in Bantwal, putting renewed focus on the safety of women in Dakshina Kannada. In the latest case, a nurse from Puttur, identified as Nandini, alleged that she was threatened by one Mohammed Naushad after she complained to the police about his alleged conduct.
According to the complaint, Nandini was staying in a rented house at Neermarga in Mangaluru. On August 16, she travelled to Mysuru and handed over the key to her friend Chandana, asking her to feed her dog.
The following day, Chandana reportedly visited the house along with another nurse, Aditya, who is from Kerala. Police said Naushad allegedly entered the house and created a disturbance, verbally abusing the two women. When Nandini came to know about the incident and contacted them, the accused allegedly spoke to her over the phone and abused her.
Nandini subsequently approached the Mangaluru Women’s Police Station and lodged a complaint against Naushad. What followed, according to her, was a direct threat to her life.
‘I will kill you before surrendering’
After learning about the complaint, Naushad allegedly sent Nandini a voice message on WhatsApp threatening to kill her.
“I am not afraid of anything. Before I surrender to the police, I will cut off your head. I will not spare you,” the accused allegedly told her in the voice message.
Fearing for her safety, Nandini reportedly approached the Mangaluru Rural Police on August 20 and submitted another complaint. She alleged that despite the complaint, immediate action was not taken against the accused.
The alleged delay has since become a major point of concern among supporters of the women and Hindu organisations, who have demanded that the police ensure the safety of the complainant and investigate the allegations thoroughly.
The case has also brought the alleged harassment of another nurse, Aditya, into focus. According to those who interacted with her, she claimed that Naushad possessed photographs and videos of her. This has raised allegations that she may have been subjected to threats or blackmail. However, these allegations are yet to be independently established through the police investigation.
Aditya has reportedly returned to Kerala and is currently unavailable for comment.
Hospital action raises questions
The action allegedly taken by the hospital where the two women were employed has become another contentious aspect of the case.
According to the information available, Nandini and Aditya were removed from their jobs after the dispute came to the notice of the hospital management. The development has triggered criticism, with questions being raised over whether a workplace that employs women should have provided them support and protection after they approached the authorities over alleged harassment and threats.
The episode has particularly drawn attention because both women are healthcare workers. Instead of allowing them to continue their employment while the allegations were investigated, their removal has raised concerns about whether women employees may feel discouraged from reporting harassment or threats.
The circumstances surrounding their termination, including the reasons cited by the hospital management and whether the decision was directly linked to the complaints, will require clarification.
Police defend delay in arrest
As criticism mounted over the alleged delay in arresting Naushad, Mangaluru City Police Commissioner Sudheer Reddy said the police were examining the case in accordance with the law.
“We also intend to arrest the accused. No concession has been given in this case. However, this is a case involving a threat made over the phone. Since the punishment prescribed for the offence is below the specified threshold, the law does not permit immediate arrest,” Reddy said.
The clarification came amid demands for stronger action against the accused. Shortly afterwards, Naushad reportedly appeared before a court and secured bail.
The police have maintained that the investigation will proceed and that appropriate legal action will be taken based on the evidence collected.
Women’s safety under spotlight
The incident has generated wider concern because it follows the recent killing of a young woman in Bantwal, where the accused allegedly attacked her in a public place. The two cases are not directly connected, but their proximity has intensified public debate over women’s safety in coastal Karnataka.
Women’s groups and social organisations have stressed that complaints of harassment, intimidation and threats should be treated seriously, particularly when the complainant expresses fear for her life.
In Nandini’s case, the alleged WhatsApp threat, the claims involving her friend and the reported termination of the two nurses have created multiple questions that investigators and the hospital management will need to address.
Police have appealed to the public not to spread unverified information and have assured that the allegations will be examined according to law. The immediate priority, however, remains ensuring the safety of the complainants while establishing the facts behind the allegations.
