Bengaluru mass molestation: Home Minister blames 'western ways'

January 2, 2017

Bengaluru, Jan 2: New Year revelry turned into a nightmare for several women who were allegedly molested despite huge police presence at a large gathering in city's downtown region, drawing widespread outrage even as the state Home minister stoked a controversy by blaming the youngsters' "western ways" for the incidents.

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National Commission for Women chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam came down heavily on the police and slammed home minister G Parameshwara's remarks, demanding that he should resign. The NCW as well as the Karnataka State Commission for Women also sought separate reports from administration and police over the incidents.

Police today said they were looking for the culprits involved in the alleged incidents on Saturday night in and around the junction of Brigade Road and M G Road, where thousands had gathered to herald the New Year.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that women were molested and groped and lewd remarks were also passed by miscreants late night on December 31 in the posh area even as it was claimed that 1,500 police personnel had been deployed to control the crowds.

While women without any male companions had to seek protection from women police personnel, who were very few in number on the spot, men who had come with female friends had a tough time protecting them, according to eyewitnesses.

Speaking to reporters, Home Minister G Parameshwara said "It is not good. Definitely we will look into it and see that it is not repeated."

"There was need to look into how such events can be organised and regulated... We cannot have 10,000 police men," he said.

Speaking to a TV news channel, he said: "Unfortunately, what is happening is as I said days like new year Brigade Road, Commercial Street, M G Road, large number of youngsters gather. Youngsters who are almost like westerners, they try to copy the westerners not only in the mindset, but even the dressing."

The minister's remarks drew an angry response from the NCW chairperson who demanded the Home Minister should resign and apologise to the women of the country for making such remarks.

"Such remarks from the Home Minister are unacceptable and regrettable. I want to ask this Minister that are Indian men so pathetic and weak that when they see a woman in western clothes on a day of revelry, they get out of control?

"When will they Indian men learn to respect women. The Minister should apologise to the women of the country and resign," Kumaramangalam said.

Police claimed that thay had made elaborate security arrangements for the New Year eve with 1,500 policemen on duty and several CCTV cameras installed, besides Karnataka State Reserve Police, City Armed Reserve and watch towers erected to keep a close watch.

Police at the spot were apparently outnumbered to control the miscreants.

"We will try to identify the culprits and take action against them," Karnataka DGP Om Prakash said.

Police said they had not received any complaints of molestation from anyone.

NCW chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam said, "We are absolutely appalled (with the incident)... We have taken suo motu cognisance on it and have sent off the same to the home minister, the head of the police, chief secretary."

"We want a reply immediately and if the reply is unsatisfactory, we will send a team to find out why the police has not suo motu taken cognisance of the incident," she said.

"I am told that they haven't even looked at the footage they may have from cameras etc and the possibility that they are using the fact that nobody has made an official complaint as an excuse, cannot be ruled out," she said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Commission for Women Chairperson Nagalakshmi Bai told PTI, "I have taken cognisance of the reported incident. I have sought a report from police. After getting the report, I will take further action."

Police had extended the deadline allowing restaurants, bars and pubs to remain open till 2 AM on New Year's eve.

They had issued strict warnings to mischief-mongers besides asserting that adequate security arrangements had been made ahead of New Year's eve.

Also Read: Bengaluru witnesses mass molestation of women during New Year celebration

Comments

Deanne
 - 
Tuesday, 17 Jan 2017

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Rashid
 - 
Tuesday, 3 Jan 2017

Home minister is right, copying western culture, roam in the streets with half naked dresses... at least women can dress like man... why they show their body parts to others.... chair person of NCW may lecture or question patients of men...but she should understand the reality .

Althaf
 - 
Tuesday, 3 Jan 2017

New year celebration for what!!! When people of India celebrated new year celebration in Dec 31st 2015 in a hope that 2016 will be happy for them. But unfortunately MODI Ruined life of common people of india. No more joy for poor people. 2016 brought happy only to BJP and industrialists. Wake up o people. Acche Din aane wale hai in 2017.

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Media Release
March 10,2020

Mangaluru, Mar 10:  Country’s economic condition is not permanent. All young entrepreneurs can be forward looking persons, because all bad times are followed by good times. In fact, it is good time to start your own industry, said Nitte Deemed to be University Chancellor Dr. N Vinaya Hegde. 

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating a three-day entrepreneurship symposium organized by Mangalore University and Department of M. Com and MBA, University Evening College at University College Mangalore here on Monday, he said that entrepreneurship is something you enjoy. You should belief that there is something in you to achieve your area of choice. You should get pleasure out of it. 

Ex-MLC Capt. Ganesh Karnik believed that our population is definitely a resource, but symposiums are needed to convert ideas to implementation. Coastal Karnataka is best example for successful entrepreneurship in health, education sector, he added. 

Presiding over the function, Mangalore University Vice Chancellor Prof. P Subrahmanya Yadapadithaya said that students should be universally compassionate before being an entrepreneur. There will be challenges, failures in entrepreneurship. One should trust himself, and should have courage and confidence to be innovative. One should have aspiration and passion for excellence, he added.

Young scientist, international awardee Swasthik Padma was felicitated on the occasion. Evening college Principal Dr. Ramakrishna B M, Coordinator  Dr. Yathish Kumar were present among others. Kavya P Hegde mastered the ceremony, Venkatesh Nayak presented vote of thanks.

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News Network
May 10,2020

Shimoga, May 10: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa was all praise for a nine-month pregnant nurse, who is still attending to work at a Covid-dedicated hospital in the state, braving all odds in the wake of novel coronavirus pandemic.

Roopa, a resident of Gajanur, works at the Sri Jayachamarajendra Taluk Hospital in Tirthahalli.

The Chief Minister called the nurse up and admired her sense of duty after he came to know that she has been turning up at the hospital despite being in the advanced stage of pregnancy.

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News Network
May 12,2020

Bengaluru, May 12: Last week, a 28-year-old, eight-months pregnant woman, was found murdered at her house, in Diburahalli. The woman was hacked to death with a machete during the day and was discovered only after her family members returned home, later in the day. After the alleged murder, the accused tried to destroy the evidence, by cleaning the crime scene, and wiping the bloodstains off the walls and floors.

The victim was a homemaker and her husband is employed in the railway department. The police suspected that the murder was a result of someone known to the woman and family, and were soon proved right. The woman was murdered by her own brother-in-law, frustrated with her for allegedly not taking care of his mother and other family members properly.

The victim has been identified as Jyothi, and the accused is her husband’s brother Hareesh Babu, 38. “Jyothi and the accused are alleged to have had differences for the past few years. Their fights kept escalating over the years. She had also informed her family and her husband about the regular fights with the brother-in-law. The accused had been advised by the family, to back off from Jyothi. Owing to his violent streak, Babu’s wife had deserted him and their son. Since his wife’s departure, he had started troubling his brother’s wife and was regularly picked a fight with her.

He complained that Jyothi neglected to take care of his mother and other family members. Investigations reveal these as false allegations, and in fact, Babu’s son was being raised by Jyothi,” said an officer on part of investigations.

Last week, when the victim was resting at home, the accused returned home at around 10.30 am and picked up a fight with her. The fight escalated and Babu ended up hacking her to death with a machete. The victim’s father Nagaraj, at the time of filing a complaint, mentioned Babu’s regular fights with Jyothi and suspected his role in the murder of his pregnant daughter.

The accused, after killing her, had gone to the farm and pretended to not knowing about the the happenings back home. Based on the complainant’s suspicion, the police picked up Babu. After a thorough interrogation, Babu reportedly confessed to the murder of his sister-in-law. The machete, which was used for Jyothi’s murder, was also recovered by the police team.

A case of murder under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered and further investigations are underway.

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abdullah
 - 
Tuesday, 12 May 2020

Put this case in fast track and hang him immediately.  No mercy should be shown on such inhumans.

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