Eye-witnesses said the trouble began when municipal workers started laying a new water pipeline in Hanuman Nagar, a densely populated middle-class locality in ward no 7. Dhenwal wanted his house to be the first to get a water connection. However, since the pipeline was passing through the house of Ambadas Gaikwad, he insisted that the first tap should be installed in his house. The victim, Ambadas' daughter Laxmi, too joined her parents when they confronted the workers this morning threatening to stall work if Dhenwal was given precedence. Their threats met with a slew of abuses from Dhenwal's family and his party supporters. ``All day groups ofsupporters and family members of Dhenwal kept abusing us,'' Ambadas told Express Newsline. ``When I could not take it any more, I went out and asked them to disperse.'' However, the abuses did not stop and soon Dhenwal joined the group with a series of scathing comments against Laxmi. ``When he began casting aspersions on my character my blood boiled,'' Laxmi said, adding, ``I ran out and challenged him to prove his charges.''

Incensed at her audacity, Dhenwal is reported to have told her, ``I will teach you how a woman should talk to a man.'' He then allegedly lunged at her and molested her in full view of the crowd tearing her clothes in the process. Her parents' entreaties were ignored. ``His men roughed us up since we were no match for them,'' said Ambadas pointing out his injures. His wife was in a state of shock and was unable to speak.

Dhenwal, however, has denied the charge. ``Do I look like that kind of a man?'' he asked when contacted and dismissed the matter with, ``she is a girl of easyvirtue and it is not for me to say anything.''

Since the victim is a neo-Buddhist and the incident has come on the eve of Ambedkar Jayanti tomorrow, there is tension in this township where the RPI has a sizeable presence. Ulhasnagar police are maintaining a tight vigil in the area.