Hi,
If you have started reading this, please read till the end, with attention. On 7th April I was reading the news headline "Man killed in Delhi road rage". It was a shocking news. An instant anger had taken the victim to death.
A similar incident happened to me at Marathahalli(Bangalore, India) at night 12:30 AM, inside the showroom of Royal Wood Mart, a furniture shop just beside Hometown furniture mall. I do not see their signboard in the front side of their showroom, but one is placed on wall, facing towards Hometown mall.
The terrified & horror incident happened to me on 10th April, at around mid-night 12:30 AM, inside the closed door showroom of Royal Wood Mart. Besides slapping on my face, degree of terror was very high.
Mr. Riaz Khan(age of 60 plus years), the Manager of the showroom, attacked me by hitting and slapping on my face and terrorised me with loud abusive words.
Let me narrate the detail. I ordered for two sets of wardrobe on mid-March(not remembering exact date & they have kept the copy of original order in their custody) to be delivered to my Sarjapur house, which has been occupied by tenant recently. All inclusive deal was Rs. 25500/-(Furniture+ Delivery+ Fitting at the place of delivery). With lot of delay on delivery schedule, they called me on 9th April afternoon and around 5 PM I went to their showroom to take the delivery.
Then they told that Sarjapur is very far and free delivery is out of scope. They claimed that I have to pay for that. Upon showing him the original order copy(where free delivery was mentioned), he told that I have to pay Rs. 1500 extra. Finally, I agreed amicably to pay him Rs. 1300/-, with a condition that the tempo has to bring back & deliver a sofa-cum-bed set from Sarjapur to my residence at Domlur.
With the driver named Appu and other 3 fitters named Raghavendra(very hot tempered and cunning guy), Uday and another Rao, we all reached at Sarjapur house.
After fitting the furniture, they declared that they will not bring the sofa-cum-bed set & can’t go to Domlur now. It was more than night 11 PM. They asked for balance money. I disagreed to move, without the sofa set and I had to withdraw money from ATM to pay the balance. I told that I shall be paying them withdrawing money from road side ATM. After having a talk with their manager, Mr. Riaz Khan, finally they loaded the sofa and start.
After reaching near Marathahalli, instead of taking the right route towards Old Airport Road, they follow straight through the underpass & stopped besides an ATM. I apprehended that after taking money they will not go up to Domlur(it is usual practice in Bangalore by such people). I took out ATM cards from my purse and kept it inside my pocket. I told them, I shall pay them after reaching home, withdrawing from ATM, near to my residence.
Immediately, they took U turn and stopped the tempo, in front of the show room. Everyone got down. After 5 min one boy called me inside the showroom.
The manager, Mr. Riaz Khan was in drunken state and he started abusing me with loud voice, why I have not given money from Road side ATM. I was explaining him that I was ready to pay after the sofa is delivered at my place, but he was not at all listening mood.
Raghavendra(the stuff cum fitter who came for delivery) also was shouting a loud voice. They dragged me & made me sit on a sofa. It was 12:30 night. In the closed showroom & no people outside, I was encircled by 7 persons, who all were enjoying the abusive language Mr. Riaz was throwing on me.
I remained silent & cool, keeping my inner strength ON. I told that I shall be paying from nearby ATM now itself and brought ATM card from pocket.
Suddenly, the manager - Mr. Riaz Khan attacked me and started hitting & slapping on my face. As a customer, it was a great shock with such sudden physical assault & became totally reaction-less. One of them stopped him & rescued from further injury. Mental Torture was nowhere less than that by a terrorist.
In the meantime, they called another bulky figure man who looked like a local dada(he divulged his identity as landlord of the showroom).
Three of them escorted me up to the nearest ATM and that bulky man(came with me inside the ATM. I inserted the ATM card wrongly and ATM instructions were no proper. The bulky man snatched my ATM card and inserted in ATM. I could not see any ATM security around, but ATM center was installed with camera.
It was night 12:42 AM. Except inserting my PIN number, all other operations were being done by that bulky man. He withdrew an amount more than the balance to pay. It was at ICICI Bank ATM at Dosa Corner Bulding, Marathahalli.
Realizing that he has been caught by ATM camera, he kept the ATM withdrawal print out with him and stopped withdrawing any further amount.
Coming to the showroom again, I paid them balance amount RS. 23, 800/-, but they took full 25K. Man disguised as landlord asked me to forget what happened. I had an reverse talk with strong voice, saying what they have done is inhuman and beyond pardon.
Because of his own guilt, Mr. Riaz Khan started appearing as tensed. This is done on a customer by the manager of the showroom. I left from the place at around night 1 AM and they held back my sofa cum bed with them.
On my way back from Marathahalli with a private cab, I got down at HAL police station and reported them the incident. In an idle mood they listened it and said no need for FIR. Police told that they will be contacting Royal Wood Mart in the morning. Police kept my number and I gave them phone number of Mr. Riaz Khan too. I was not upset, because my level of expectation from police was not much and was already pre-set accordingly.
No police inquiry & call till now. I went to the showroom at around 11:50 AM on 10th April. The stuff named Raghabendra started putting the blame on me that I have beaten him. I objected strongly, saying neither I have beaten him nor he has beaten me. I told that his master & manager, Mr. Riaz Khan has beaten me. And this boy was again very excited and shouting mode, with no sign of apology.
Some talk I have recorded and have taken couple of snaps, although they were looking at my mobile with a doubtful eye.
I wanted to see the manager, Mr. Riaz Khan, who has hit me at night. Despite waiting for more than 20 min, Manager Mr. Riaz Khan did not come out and stuffs were giving excuse that he is in bathroom.
After I came back to home, I got a call from Mr. Riaz Khan. He said sorry for his act on last night.
I have discussed the incident with couple of my neighbors & residence association of Diamond District. I have contacted my close friends on 10th evening. There were mixed view from people. Some suggested that I should proceed lodging FIR and put on Facebook. Others have shown concern, indicating the evil power & influence behind the miscreants might be a cause of concern for me.
On 10th April, with repeated follow up, at around night 11 PM, showroom people come and dropped my sofa-cum-bed set just inside the gate, near the security area. They even has not brought the tempo inside(probably they were afraid because of 10th night incident).
On 11th April evening, I sent him couple of SMS mentioning that(i) Although I have informed HAL police station, I am not going to lodge FIR because Mr. Riaz has begged pardon & I have forgiven him,(ii) I told Mr. Riaz to alert his boys not to make false statement against me & not to make any harming attempt to me and(iii) asked him to return me the copy of order and acknowledgement by 11 PM tonight.
After that I called him also and narrated these points. He was reluctant to talk and was in an escaping mood.
I told him that I have shared the incident with my friends and will be sharing further on Facebook & other websites. Immediately he became very hot and started putting the blame back on me. I have recorded the conversation.
Recent case of Road Rage in Delhi is a shocking incident. Rage(instant anger) & rudeness, generally we observe with hooligans in many infamous cities in India & other places. But such a rage by a showroom manager towards a customer is really alarming for all of us. Is it an exceptional case? Or many such cases keep on happening silently(and people digest it), with different degree of terror?
I have forgiven the old man. However, I have got negative report from other people also w.r.t. rough behavior they got from people at Royal Wood Mart. They talk very sweetly during order booking. I feel, sharing it to people is a social obligation for me.
Can we allow Bangalore to be a place for such rowdy & rage minded people?