In Bengaluru, a troubling case of alleged moral policing has surfaced involving the harassment of a Hindu boy and his Muslim classmate at a public park. The incident, which occurred on Saturday evening at Suvarna Layout Park in the Chandra Layout area, has led to the detention of five individuals, including a minor.
What Happened:
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A young Muslim woman, wearing a burqa, was reportedly sitting on a bike with her Hindu male classmate in the park.
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A group of five young Muslim men confronted them, allegedly questioning the woman’s conduct in derogatory terms.
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They reportedly asked, “Why are you sitting on a bike with a Hindu boy while wearing a burqa? Don’t you have any shame?”
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When the woman refused to provide her family’s contact details and asserted that the boy was her classmate, the group allegedly became aggressive and tried to intimidate and assault the boy.
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The group is also accused of filming the interaction and sharing the video on social media, a move seen as an attempt to publicly shame the two.
Police Action:
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The woman lodged a complaint, based on which a case was registered.
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Four individuals, identified as Mahim, Afridi, Wasim, and Anjum, along with a juvenile, were taken into custody.
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DCP (West) S Girish confirmed the arrests and said that an investigation is ongoing.
Broader Concerns:
This incident raises serious concerns about rising moral policing, inter-community tensions, and personal freedom, especially when young adults from different communities interact in public spaces. The fact that the attackers recorded and circulated the video also reflects a dangerous trend of vigilantism through social media shaming.
Authorities have assured strict action and legal proceedings will follow based on the findings. Civil society groups have begun raising questions about freedom of association, gender rights, and communal harmony, particularly in cosmopolitan cities like Bengaluru.
