Two Men Detained for Posting Instagram Reel Harassing Women in Maharashtra, Issue Public Apology

Maharashtra:
In a swift response aimed at safeguarding women’s dignity, police in Loni town detained two men after they posted an Instagram reel showing themselves harassing women in public.

The accused, identified as Shahid Hussain Shaikh and Saad Hasham Syed, both residents of Shrirampur in Ahmednagar district, had visited Loni on October 4. During their visit to the Ahilya Nagar area, they recorded a video where they were seen making lewd and derogatory remarks toward women passing by on the street.

In the video, one of them stated that they had come to Loni “just to harass college girls.” At one point, they turned their camera towards two women and mockingly asked, “Why are they laughing?” They later uploaded the clip on Instagram with the caption, “I was making the video, and they were laughing.”

The video immediately caught the attention of local authorities. Acting promptly, police traced and detained the duo. Their mobile phones and motorcycle were seized, and a case was registered against them.

During interrogation, both men admitted to their wrongdoing and, following police instructions, recorded an apology video. In the statement, they said:

“We had gone to Loni on Saturday since it was a holiday. While shooting our video, we made objectionable comments about women. We uploaded it on Instagram, and now charges have been filed against us.”

They concluded their apology with a warning to others, saying:

“Don’t do this, or you will be charged too.”

The incident has been widely applauded as an example of decisive police action against online harassment and public misconduct. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to ensuring women’s safety and penalising digital misbehaviour without delay.