In a swift response to a viral social media post, the SG Palya police station in Bengaluru has registered a formal complaint, arrested three individuals, and secured their judicial custody. The action follows an alarming incident where a woman motorist was allegedly stalked and harassed for several kilometres on a main city road.
Viral Video Captures Harrowing Incident
The incident came to light after a resident, Abhinav Vasudevan, posted a video on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The footage, recorded on the night of December 24, shows three young men riding triple on a single gearless scooter. They are seen dangerously tailgating and allegedly harassing a woman who was riding alone near the Silk Board Junction area.
Vasudevan, who acted as both witness and complainant, stated in his post that he observed the group harassing the woman for several kilometres on a main road before 10 PM. He recorded the video as evidence and intervened, causing the trio to flee immediately. He tagged the Bengaluru City Police and Bengaluru City Traffic Police in his appeal for legal action.
Police Take Swift Legal Action
The Bengaluru police responded promptly to the online complaint. Authorities confirmed that suitable legal action has been initiated. An First Information Report (FIR) was registered based on the evidence. The police subsequently identified and arrested the three accused.
The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Roshan (19), Ayan (19), and Rihan Khan (18). Law enforcement officials have also identified the two-wheeler allegedly used during the harassment. Following their arrest, all three accused were presented before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
A Pattern of Addressing Street Harassment
This case highlights the ongoing concerns regarding women's safety on Bengaluru's roads. It follows another recent action by the city's police where the Jnanabharathi Police arrested a man accused of harassing a young woman. In that separate incident, the accused was charged with forcing the woman to create a romantic connection and attempting to tear her clothes.
The quick registration of the FIR and arrests in the Silk Board case demonstrate the police's reliance on digital evidence and public collaboration. It sets a precedent for using citizen-recorded footage to hold perpetrators accountable for street harassment and dangerous driving behaviour.
