Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 11: In a disturbing case of moral policing, the Karnataka Police arrested four men and detained a minor on Friday for harassing a Muslim woman over a conversation with a youth from another community in the Chandra Layout area of Bengaluru.

The accused—identified as Mohammad Mohsin, Mohammad Mansoor, Mohammad Afridi Pasha, and Waseem Khan—allegedly confronted the woman for speaking to a Hindu youth while she was wearing a burqa. According to police, they verbally abused her, demanded her family’s contact details, and attempted to assault both her and the youth. A minor boy involved in the incident was also taken into custody.

The police revealed the professional backgrounds of the accused: Mohsin is a scrap dealer, Mansoor a tailor, while Afridi Pasha and Waseem Khan work as welders.

Speaking to the media, DCP (West) S Girish said, “A boy and a girl were seen sitting on a bike near a park. A group of men approached and began questioning them. The woman was wearing a burqa. They asked whether she had informed her family about being there. Based on her complaint, we have registered a case and arrested the four accused. The minor has also been detained.”

When asked about the motive behind the confrontation, the DCP said, “There doesn't seem to be any pre-planned intention. The men saw a girl in a burqa with a boy and began questioning her. No physical violence occurred, and more details will emerge through the investigation.”

Sources said the woman maintained that the boy was her classmate and firmly questioned the group’s interference in her personal life. Unfazed by their intimidation, she refused to share her family's contact information. The group then allegedly attempted to assault both the woman and the youth and recorded a video of the interaction, which was later shared on social media and went viral.

The video sparked public outrage, with several Hindu groups condemning the incident and accusing the government of turning a blind eye to growing instances of religious vigilantism. Critics also raised concerns over whether Karnataka was slipping into religious orthodoxy, questioning the state’s commitment to protecting individual freedoms.

Police acted swiftly following the complaint and arrested the accused involved in the case.

This incident echoes a horrifying case that took place in Hangal town on January 8, 2024. A woman belonging to a minority community was allegedly dragged out of a hotel after being seen with a man from another religion. She was then forcibly taken to an isolated location where she was brutally gang-raped. Her ordeal continued across multiple locations before she managed to release a video appealing for justice. The accused were arrested following her public plea.

Both incidents have reignited public debate on the rise of moral policing in the state and the need for stronger safeguards to protect personal freedom and dignity.