A 40-year-old car driver was arrested by the Shankarpuram police for allegedly molesting his neighbour and later attacking her and her husband with a machete during a confrontation on Monday.

The accused, identified as Puttaraju, lived in the same compound house as the victims on Rangarao Road in Shankarpuram. The police said he worked as a car driver, while his wife was employed as a cook in the same house where the complainant and his wife worked.

According to the complaint filed by Nandish, he, his wife, and their two children were staying in the accommodation provided by their employer. Puttaraju and his wife occupied another portion of the same premises.

The police said the accused had allegedly been harassing the woman for several months. Around two months ago, while she was washing dishes outside the house, he allegedly sexually harassed her. Though Nandish had repeatedly warned him against such behaviour, the harassment allegedly continued.

The latest incident took place on Monday around 8.35 p.m., when the woman was again washing dishes outside the house. Nandish allegedly noticed Puttaraju standing near his doorway, making inappropriate gestures towards her, leading to a heated argument between the two men.

During the altercation, Puttaraju allegedly went inside his house, picked up a dosa pan and assaulted Nandish on the head. The fight later spilt into the passage area of the house, where the accused allegedly snatched a machete from Nandish and attacked him on the hand, causing severe bleeding. He also allegedly threatened to kill him.

Hearing the commotion, the couple’s children and the house owner rushed to their aid. The injured man was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

After being discharged on Tuesday morning, Nandish approached the police and lodged a complaint.

Based on the complaint, the Shankarpuram police arrested the accused under Sections 109 (attempt to murder), 78 (stalking or harassment of a woman), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 352 (intentional insult or provocation leading to breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.