In remarks that could stir a controversy, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday said incidents like the one in which a woman was molested on a street tend to happen in a big city like Bengaluru. However, he emphasised that legal action would be taken against the molester, and he directed the police to increase beat patrolling.

"Incidents like these tend to happen here and there in a big city like this. Whatever legal action needs to be taken will be done in accordance with the law. I have also instructed our commissioner to increase beat patrolling," G Parameshwara said.

Last week, CCTV footage went viral on social media showing a man groping a woman on a street at Bharati Layout in Suddaguntepalya before fleeing. The incident happened in the early hours of April 3.

The video shows a man approaching two women walking in a narrow lane before pushing one of them against a wall. The man then gropes her and touches her inappropriately before running away. The two women, visibly startled by the incident, walk away from the area, the footage shows.

Bengaluru police have registered a suo motu case after the incident sparked outrage even though the victim is yet to file a complaint.

The case has been registered under Section 354B (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe a woman).

Last year, a similar incident was caught on camera in August. A woman in Bengaluru's Konanakunte area was groped by a man during her morning walk. The accused, who was a cab driver, was arrested two days after the incident took place.

According to government data shared last year, Bengaluru saw a significant increase in crime against women in 2023, with police registering 3,260 cases, including 1,135 related to molestation.

Source: India Today