The Ex-Manager of the Lohana Mahajan, Ankit Dawda (32) has told the Kisutu Resident Magistrate's Court, Dar es Salaam how the couple Bharat Nathwan (57) and Sangita Bharat (54) attacked their neighbor Lalit Ratilal and his wife Kiran Lalit and verbally abused them in Hindu Language.

The couple, who are Tanzanian citizens of Indian origin, living on Mrima Street - Kisutu, Lohana building Dar es Salaam are accused of four charges including injuring and causing grevious harm which they committed on July 21, 2023 against the law.

Dawda claimed this yesterday before the Chief Resident Magistrate, Aaron Lyamuya when the case was called for the continuation of the hearing of the prosecution's witnesses.

Led by the Senior State Attorney, Grace Mwanga supported by Frank Rimoy, Dawda claimed that his job was to maintain the surroundings of the Lohana Mahajan and the Temple within, decorate and provide decorations as well as collect things for the temple, and supervise the cleaning, repair and upkeep of the entire building with residential houses where the temple is located in the same building.

He claimed that on July 21, 2023 he was in his office continuing with his work duties, whereby suddenly he was approached by community members attending the function in the Lohana Hall, telling him to check upstairs where noises and shouting was heard.

He claimed that when he reached the 3rd floor of the building, he found Sangita Bharat complaining and shouting at the technicians who were doing construction work, in Lalit’s area, to remove the tiles that were in the porch while all the things were in Lalit Ratilal's area and there was nothing in Sangita Bharat's area.

Dawda claimed that at that time there was a lot of noise going on downstairs due to the function, and Sangita Bharat continued to raise her voice that the dirt that was in the porch should be removed.

"Because the technicians did not remove the tiles, Sangita Bharat started abusing in the Hindu language, and while this was going on, their husbands arrived and Sangita was continuing to abuse and suddenly, Bharat Nathwani hit Lalit Ratilal with his forehead and hit on his head using steel bangle which he was wearing on his wrist, and kicking Lalit’s chest and leg and Lalit Ratilal fell to the ground and lost consciousness and while Lalit’s wife, Kiran Lalit tried to stop Bharat hitting Lalit while he was unconscious on the ground, Bharat Nathwani pulled her and started hitting her as well and drowned her head in a bucket full of mixed cement-glue causing  grievous harm to her eyes, face and other parts of her body.

Ambulance was called, and they were taken down and to the hospital, but I don't know which hospital they were taken to," claimed Dawda

The case has been adjourned until June 3, 2024 for the continuation of the prosecution's witnesses.

Earlier, Carpenter, Dominic Mpakani (43) told the court how the accused Bharat Natwan attacked his neighbor, Lalit Ratilal by hitting his head in the chest and then he fell to the ground and lost consciousness for a while.

In addition, he claimed that there was an argument between Bharat's wife (Sangita Bharat) and Lalit's wife, (Kiran) who were throwing words at each other violently in the Hindi language while, after a while, their husbands arrived together and intervened in the argument.

He claimed that on July 21, 2023 he was at Lalit Ratilal's house in Mrima street in Lohana district, he called him to do work related to wood and other small jobs.

He claimed that he arrived at the building at three o'clock in the morning where his boss lives on the third floor, while he was working, he claimed that Sangita was standing at his window and Kiran was standing at his door, each of them started talking harshly and forcefully using the language of hindi.

"But I heard Bharat's wife, Sangita telling Lalit's wife that her garbage should be taken there where all the things were placed in Lalit's area and nothing was in Sangita's area. After some minutes I don't know if they called or how their husbands came on time one and the conflict continued for all four," demanded Fundi Mpakani

The witness claimed that, while the conflict was going on, they were all standing at Lalit's door, after a while Bharat hit Lalit on the head and Lalit fell to the ground and lost consciousness.

Another witness who is Dr. Lucia Augustino (52) of Mnanzi Mmoja Hospital claimed that on July 21, 2023 he was in the Emergency Department room number 20 during the day and he received two clients of Asian origin who were upset from head to toe, the mother was more upset than the father .

According to the indictment, the defendants who are Tanzanian citizens of Indian gender living in Mrima Street - Kisutu, Lohana Dar es Salaam are accused of four charges they committed on July 21, 2023.

In the first charge of injuring Nathwani alone, where he is accused on July 21, 2023 in the area of Mrima-Kisutu, Lohana district, within the Ilala District, Dar es Salaam, he illegally caused serious harm to Kiran Lalit by submerging his head his in a bucket of mixed cement.

Also, in the second charge of physical assault against Nathwani alone, on that date and place he caused physical harm to Lalit Ratilal by hitting him on the head, punching and kicking him on the head.

It was alleged that in the third and fourth charges against Sangita alone, she is accused of uttering serious insults against Lalit and Kiran, an act that created a disturbance in a manner that could create a breach of peace.