Bhubaneswar: A woman was allegedly assaulted by members of a local Women Self-Help Group (SHG) in Aranji village under Bhadrak Rural Police Station on Sunday, after a dispute over unpaid loan installments.
The victim, Monalisha Mohapatra, told police that the SHG members attacked her despite the fact that her mother, Manorama Mohapatra, the original borrower, had passed away four months ago. Manorama had borrowed Rs 70,000 from an SHG named Bajrangi Group.
Following her mother’s death due to paralysis in July, Monalisha said she had been paying the monthly installment of Rs 2,830 regularly. She also submitted her mother’s death certificate to the microfinance organisation, hoping that the insurance cover would clear the remaining dues.
However, she alleged that the SHG members continued to demand further payments. When she refused to pay until the insurance claim was processed, several SHG members, along with their family members, confronted her outside her house and physically assaulted her on Sunday morning.
Monalisha sustained serious injuries in the attack and is currently undergoing treatment at Bhadrak District Headquarters Hospital (DHH).
She has filed a complaint at Bhadrak Rural Police Station and the police have registered a case based on her statement.
An investigation into the alleged assault is underway.
