Bengaluru: In a chilling case that echoes the recent Renukaswamy murder incident, a youth was kidnapped and brutally assaulted by a group of eight to ten men in Bengaluru for allegedly sending obscene messages to his ex-girlfriend. The attackers filmed the entire ordeal, and the disturbing video has gone viral on social media.
The victim, identified as Kushal, was in a relationship with a college student for two years before the couple broke up. After the girl moved on and began dating someone else, Kushal reportedly started harassing her with inappropriate and explicit messages.
Angered by this, the girl, her new boyfriend, and his friend allegedly devised a plan to teach Kushal a lesson. According to police reports, they lured him under the pretext of resolving the matter amicably.
Once Kushal arrived alone, he was kidnapped and taken to an isolated location. There, he was subjected to a brutal assault by the group. The video footage shows the youth being stripped, beaten, and hit on his genitals. One of the attackers can be heard laughing and making references to the Renukaswamy murder case.
The case drew particular attention because of the attackers’ alleged inspiration: the murder of Renukaswamy, who was killed after reportedly sending obscene messages to Kannada actor Darshan’s long-term partner, Pavithra Gowda. In the latest incident, one of the assailants is heard telling Kushal he would “meet the same fate as Renukaswamy” if he continued his actions.
Police have arrested eight individuals involved in the case and are investigating the involvement of the others. “This is a clear case of planned assault with the intention to humiliate and punish the victim outside the legal framework,” said a senior police official. “We are taking the matter seriously, and more arrests could follow.”
The incident has sparked fresh concerns over rising instances of vigilante-style justice and the influence of sensational criminal cases on impressionable minds. Authorities have urged citizens to report harassment and abuse through proper legal channels rather than resorting to violence.