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BENGALURU: A 22-year-old software professional sustained grievous injuries on her face after a stalker , who she sought to repel unleashing pepper spray on him, allegedly hit her with a steel bottle near Manyata Embassy Business Park, north Bengaluru.

The woman , who is from Bhopal and stays in a paying guest (PG) facility in P&T Layout in Thanisandra, has been operated upon. The incident took place on Thursday night when the woman, who works as an engineer with an MNC in the tech park, was returning to her PG after work.

The woman exited from Rachenahalli back gate and was walking to her PG around 9pm when she realised a man, who seemed to be in his early 20s, was following her. As the youth inched closer to her, she panicked and pulled out a canister of pepper spray.

But before she could react in self-defence, the youth hit her on the face with a steel water bottle he was carrying.

The woman sustained injuries on her nose and jaw and collapsed on the spot; the miscreant fled. Her PG owner Damodar, who came to know about the incident, rushed to the spot and took her to a nearby hospital. She was discharged on Sunday.

Sampigehalli police have booked a case based on the woman’s complaint. Her cousin, who learnt about the incident, flew down to Bengaluru the same night.

He told TOI the company had failed to provide her a with cab and security guard, though she had asked for it several times. “The spot where she was attacked has no streetlight and is deserted. The attacker followed her for about 100 meters before inching closer. A woman standing in the balcony of a house nearby witnessed the attack. Traumatised by the incident, my cousin told me she will leave Bengaluru. Companies should provide cab service and security for women taking these roads,” he said.

