A distressing incident of alleged sexual harassment inside a Bengaluru Metro train has ignited public anger after a woman's video account of the event went viral. The woman took matters into her own hands, confronting and slapping the accused, a 46-year-old man identified as Mutappa, during her commute home from work.
Confrontation on a Crowded Train
The episode unfolded on Tuesday, December 23, around 7 pm, on a Namma Metro train near the bustling Majestic interchange station. In her widely circulated video statement, the woman described a journey that began normally, with passengers engrossed in their phones. Her ordeal started when a new passenger, later identified as Mutappa, occupied the seat next to her.
She recounted that the man sat uncomfortably close, making her feel cramped. After attempting to adjust her position, she felt a hand pressing against her body in an inappropriate manner. Initially unsure, she soon realized the contact was deliberate. "I realised after a while that what he was doing was not a mistake but intentional," she stated. The woman described freezing with anger upon this realization.
"I Slapped Him": A Moment of Fury and Justice
Deciding she could not let the man escape, the woman acted as her destination station approached. She got up and slapped the accused firmly. Discovering he was alighting at the same station, she confronted him again on the platform, delivering another slap.
"I slapped him so bad that he was crying and begging… and on top of that, he was smiling also," she narrated. She observed the accused showing a pained expression while simultaneously smiling and muttering denials and apologies in Kannada, a language she did not understand. The woman also alleged the man was intoxicated and had been roaming the metro for about an hour.
Police Investigation Launched
Following the confrontation, Metro security personnel intervened and escorted both individuals to the metro office. The woman insisted on filing a formal complaint. She subsequently lodged a complaint at the Upparpet Police Station.
Police confirmed that a non-cognisable report has been registered under charges of indecent behaviour and sexual harassment. Authorities have launched an investigation and are examining CCTV footage from the Metro to gather evidence. As per reports, the accused was allegedly intoxicated during the incident.
The viral video and the woman's decisive action have sparked a significant conversation about women's safety in public transport and the importance of speaking out against harassment.
