BENGALURU
Police have registered a case against an autorickshaw driver for allegedly sexually harassing a 19-year-old college student on Promenade Road in Cleveland Town in east Bengaluru.
The complainant, a first-year BSc student residing in JC Nagar, approached police with her parents after the incident that reportedly occurred around 12.45 pm on May 7.
According to the complaint, the student was returning home after attending a sports meet at a PU college when she noticed a man seated inside a parked autorickshaw signalling towards her. After getting her attention, the accused allegedly unzipped his trousers, exposed himself and began performing obscene acts in public.
Police said the accused later drove ahead, stopped again and allegedly gestured at the student to enter his autorickshaw. Frightened by the incident, the student attempted to raise an alarm, following which the accused fled from the spot.
The student informed her parents about the incident two days later and subsequently lodged a complaint with police after counselling and support from family members.
A senior police officer said the complainant’s father, employed in a private firm, accompanied her to the station to file the case.
Police have registered an FIR under Sections 74, 75 and 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to assault or criminal force against a woman, sexual harassment and acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
Investigators have collected CCTV footage from the surrounding areas in an effort to trace the accused. However, officials said the autorickshaw registration number was not clearly visible in the footage.
“The CCTV visuals have been sent to the command centre for enhancement and technical assistance. Efforts are underway to identify and arrest the accused at the earliest,” the officer said.
Police have urged citizens to immediately report incidents of harassment and assured that strict action would be taken against offenders involved in crimes against women.