Bengaluru mass molestation: 'Petrol is bound to catch fire' says Abu Azmi

Bengaluru: Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi made a shocking remark on Bengaluru mass molestation incident. Azmi on Tuesday said, “If my daughter or sister leaves home with an unknown guy, post sunset to celebrate 31^st December; then even that is wrong and condemnable". Azmi further added that, “Petrol is bound to catch fire also, if there is sugar spilled on the floor; it is bound to attract ants”. He further added that, “I am very certain people would be upset with me after my statement, but it is bitter truth. Police are scanning CCTV footage to verify if some young women were molested and abused during the New Year eve revelry in the city centre, a senior police officer said on Monday. "Though there has been no complaint, we are scanning the footage of the area around M.G. Road and Brigade Road to ascertain if such an incident occurred to investigate and nab the culprits," Additional Commissioner of Police Malini Krishnamoorthy told IANS. Amid claims and counter-claims over the alleged incident in which some drunken men allegedly groped women and heckled revellers, Krishnamoorthy said the police would act against the culprits if anyone came forward with evidence in the form of mobile footage or oral and written submission by victims or witnesses. "We are not sure about the pictures and footage being shown on news channels as they don't clearly show such an incident took place. We have appealed to the public to come forward if they have evidence in any form to take even suo moto action," she said. Initial inquiries with several police personnel, including officers who were on duty at the spot, did not report such an incident though they had resorted to caning unruly mobs trying to break barriers and refusing to disperse after well-past midnight. "Unless we have the footage which shows the alleged molestation or complaints from victims, how do we proceed in the absence of evidence even from our personnel at the spot," Krishnamoorthy added. According to unconfirmed reports, some women sought protection from women police personnel and others took help of their male companions to protect themselves from drunken revellers. "We had elaborate security arrangements in place, including patrolling, CCTV cameras and some police personnel in plainclothes to prevent any untoward incident during the revelry," added Krishnamoorthy.