On Camera, Bengaluru Couple Harassed, Minister Declares ‘Won’t Tolerate’

Bengaluru:

A couple was harassed and attacked by five men near a park in Bengaluru, officials reported on Friday. The attack, which was caught on camera, occurred when the couple was sitting on a scooter facing one another near the park.

The man, who was wearing an orange t-shirt, and the woman, who was wearing a burqa, were filmed arguing with a group of men, one of which was found to be recording a video of the woman. The accused initially asked the woman if her family knew where she was. They subsequently asked the man why he was mixing with a woman of a different religion and harassed the couple.

In the video, the men also abused and questioned the woman if she had “any shame” sitting with a man, dressed in a burqa.

“The couple were sitting on a scooter when five individuals questioned them. The girl had a burqa on. We received a complaint from the woman on which we have filed a case. We are still investigating,” Girish, Deputy Commissioner of Police, said.

Though the police described the occurrence as not being violent, there is another video where the accused surround the man and strike him with what appeared to be a wooden log.

On the basis of the complaint of the woman, the police arrested the five accused – one of whom was a juvenile.

“They primarily questioned the woman as to why she was sitting there. We will learn more in the course of investigation,” the DCP added.

“We have received a complaint from the woman on the basis of which we have filed a case. We have arrested four individuals including a juvenile,” Girish informed reporters.

In response to the incident, Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge announced that they will “not tolerate” moral policing in the state. “This is not Bihar or Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh. Karnataka is a progressive state,” he said.