Auto driver flashes at 19-year-old student in Bengaluru; booked

BENGALURU: A 19-year-old undergraduate student alleged that an auto driver sexually harassed her while she was walking on Promenade Road at Cleveland Town in east Bengaluru.

A resident of JC Nagar, the first-year BSc student at a private college in Vasanthnagar filed a complaint with police about the incident which happened at 12.45pm on May 7. After participating in a sports meet at a PU college, she left for home.

As she was walking on the roadside, a man seated in a parked autorickshaw signalled at her. Once he got her attention, he unzipped and flashed at her and began masturbating in broad daylight.

Later, the driver took a turn and again gestured at her to get into his vehicle. When she tried to raise an alarm, the driver escaped in his autorickshaw. The girl told her parents about the incident on May 9. With their support, she approached police.

A senior officer said the complainant's father, who works in a private firm, brought her to the station after counselling her. A case has been registered under BNS Sections 74 (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 75 (sexual harassment) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman).

Police have verified CCTV footage of the surrounding areas. The auto registration number is not clear in the footage. So, we have sent the footage to the command centre for assistance. Efforts are on to nab the accused, the officer said.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)