'This Is Not Bihar Or UP': K'taka Minister Warns Against 'Moral Policing' After Couple Assaulted In Bengaluru

A couple was harassed and assaulted by five men in Bengaluru when they were sitting on a scooter facing each other during their meeting outside a park.

Congress leader Priyank Kharge warned against moral policing in a 'progressive' state like Karnataka

Source : X/@PriyankKharge

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge reacted to the incident of a couple being assaulted in Bengaluru, saying the government will "not tolerate" any moral policing in the state. He also said that Karnataka is a "progressive state" and is not "Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pardesh".

"This is not Bihar or Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh. Karnataka is a progressive state," he said, as reported by NDTV.

The Congress leader's remark came after a couple was harassed and assaulted by five men outside a park in Bengaluru. The incident took place when the couple was sitting on a scooter facing each other outside the park. 

The entire incident was captured on camera, with the footage showing the man in an orange t-shirt and the woman wearing a burqa sitting on a scooter. They got into a heated exchange with some men, one of whom was recording the incident. 

In the video, one of the man can be heard asking the woman if her family knew about her whereabouts and then questioned the man why he was meeting the woman of a different faith. The men then hurled abuses at the couple.

They can also be heard threatening the woman and asking her if she "had any shame" sitting with a man, despite wearing a burqa. 

"The couple was sitting on a scooter when five people questioned them. The girl was wearing a burqa. We have received a complaint from the woman based on which we have registered a case....We are continuing our investigation," the report quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police, Girish, as saying.

Although the police said the incident was not violent, another video showed the group of men surrounding the man and hitting him with what looked like a wooden log. Police have filed a case and arrested five accused, including a juvenile, based on the complaint filed by the woman.

"They mainly asked the woman why she was sitting there. We will find out more during investigation," the DCP said.