Four women and a youth hailing from Kashmir complained of assault by a mob of around 40 persons over a petty issue in the national capital, following which an FIR was lodged on Friday, police said.
The case was registered on the complaint filed by one of the victim women, whose identity was not disclosed by the police.
Earlier, a Kashmiri man living in Sunlight Colony, in his police complaint, had accused a group of residents of carrying out a planned attack on him and four women, including his sister, while they were walking in the street after dinner on Thursday night.
The group that was assaulted has told the police that the harassment had started months ago, when neighbours allegedly targeted the men and women for being Kashmiri and shouted "kashmiri ugrawaadi (extremist)" at them. The group was repeatedly asked to leave the neighbourhood.
Last night, they were cornered by around 40 people, they allege.
"There are complaints from both sides. There were complaints earlier too. We are investigating," said senior police officer Chinmoy Biswal.
One of the Kashmiri women said: "My sisters were abused and beaten up. I have a broken left hand and one of my guests who had come to visit us was also attacked. It was a planned attack and the accused were carrying hockey sticks."
Alleging "constant harassment", she complained: "So many people kept assaulting us and making videos, but nobody came to help. We have asked for police protection."
A neighbour gave a different version, saying one of the Kashmiri men "misbehaved with women" and the fight started because of it.
The woman, Sangeeta Tripathi, said: "A man from that family regularly misbehaves with women in the area. I lodged a complaint against him for molestation in December. Last night too, the man and his friends abused me and misbehaved."
She claimed that she and other residents were carrying sticks because of a dog menace.
Last night there was an argument and a fight broke out.
"The woman beat herself up to inflict self-injuries. They claimed we thrashed her...it is all lies. I snatched the stick from her to stop her. No one thrashed her," claimed Ms Tripathi.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Chinmoy Biswal said: "We have registered a case on charges of sexual harassment, making sexually-coloured remarks, criminal intimidation and using words and acts intended to insult the modesty of women against the accused."
Earlier, the police officer had told IANS that a complaint was received from both parties, who had accused each other of assault.
He had said it was a case of old enmity. "Both parties have indulged in similar actions in the past, following which cross cases were registered against them."
