Did Bengaluru Police Capture a Man Harassing Women on the Streets?
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Bengaluru, Dec 15 (NationPress) The Kamakshipalya police have apprehended a man accused of harassing and assaulting women in Bengaluru over the past month.
The individual, identified as Vinod, allegedly targeted women who were alone after 6 p.m., attacking those walking on streets as well as women on two-wheelers, engaging in vulgar behavior towards them.
Authorities report that Vinod would approach solitary women and forcibly hug them. For women on bikes, he would wait for them to slow down due to potholes before charging at them to seize them. He purportedly behaved indecently, touching their private areas and committing lewd acts.
This arrest was prompted by a complaint from a 42-year-old woman following an incident on December 2 near Srinivasa Circle at Sunkadakatte. While riding her bike with her husband trailing in a car, she slowed near a pothole, allowing Vinod to rush towards her, grab her, and act indecently. Her husband attempted to chase him, but Vinod initially evaded capture.
A call to the emergency number 112 was made, leading to Vinod’s arrest with the help of Hoysala police personnel. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to committing similar offenses for about a month, exploiting the absence of previous complaints against him.
Vinod is presently in police custody, and the Kamakshipalya police are continuing their investigation to uncover the full scope of his actions.
Charges have been filed against him under Sections 75 (sexual harassment) and 352 (intentional insult aimed at provoking a breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
Further investigation is ongoing.
It’s worth noting that a bike taxi rider in Bengaluru was arrested on November 9 for allegedly attempting to grab a woman passenger's legs during a ride in the city. The woman had recorded a video of the incident and later reported it to the police. In an Instagram post, she described her experience, claiming the rider tried to grab her legs while she was returning to her accommodation from Church Street.
She explained that the incident occurred suddenly, leaving her without time to react or record it. When the rider repeated the action, she confronted him, demanding he stop, but he allegedly persisted. Being new to the area and unfamiliar with the route, she did not ask him to stop the bike. After arriving at her destination, a nearby man noticed her distress and questioned her, leading to a confrontation with the rider. The rider reportedly apologized and promised he wouldn’t repeat the behavior; however, before leaving, he allegedly made a gesture that further unsettled her.
Sharing her story, the woman emphasized the need for awareness, stating that no woman should endure such harassment in vehicles or elsewhere. Despite having faced similar incidents before, the sense of insecurity during this incident urged her to speak out.