Bengaluru: A disturbing incident of harassment involving a woman rider has come to light from Bengaluru, where three men riding on a scooter allegedly followed and harassed her for over two kilometres on the busy Silk Board route. The incident occurred late on Tuesday night and has sparked widespread outrage after a video of the episode went viral on social media.
The video was recorded by a motorist travelling behind the scooters and later shared on social media platform X, drawing the attention of the Bengaluru City Police.
Woman followed for over 2 km
According to details shared online, the woman was riding her scooter when three men, travelling together on another scooter, began following her deliberately for nearly 2 to 2.5 kilometres. The men were reportedly not wearing helmets and were riding in a rash and reckless manner.
Eyewitness accounts and the video footage suggest that the trio repeatedly overtook the woman, cut in front of her scooter, and rode dangerously close, seemingly with the intention of intimidating and harassing her. Their erratic riding not only endangered the woman but also posed a risk to other road users on the busy stretch.
The incident occurred before 10 pm, raising concerns about women’s safety even during relatively early hours on main city roads.
Video shared by concerned citizen
The video was shared on X by user Abhinav Vasudevan (@abhyn0w), who said he witnessed the harassment while driving behind the scooters. In his post, he stated that he began recording the incident as evidence and later intervened.
“Saw a girl being harassed by a group of guys for several kms on a main road, & this was before 10 pm. I took a video as evidence and intervened, and they immediately fled,” he wrote, tagging @BlrCityPolice and @blrcitytraffic.
Following his intervention, the three men reportedly fled the scene.
Police take cognisance
The Bengaluru City Police took immediate cognisance of the incident after the video went viral and was tagged to official police handles. In a response posted on X, the SG Palya Police Station confirmed that action was underway.
“We are on it. The vehicle and owner details have been identified, and further action will be assured as per law,” the police stated.
In a subsequent update, police officials said that the scooter involved in the incident had been identified and that legal proceedings would be initiated against the accused.
Public concern over road safety
The incident has reignited public concern over women’s safety and reckless riding in Bengaluru, particularly violations such as triple riding and riding without helmets. Social media users have demanded strict action against the accused to serve as a deterrent against similar behaviour.
Traffic and safety activists have also pointed out the need for increased night patrolling and surveillance on major arterial roads such as the Silk Board stretch, which witnesses heavy vehicular movement even late into the night.
Conclusion
The swift response by the Bengaluru Police has been welcomed by citizens, though many stress that consistent enforcement and visible policing are essential to prevent such incidents. As investigations continue, the case underscores the importance of public vigilance and timely intervention in ensuring road safety and protecting vulnerable road users.