A shocking incident took place at Gangavati bus stand in Karnataka’s Koppal district, where a man was caught secretly taking pictures of women and female students on his mobile phone. Passengers and locals shouted at the accused and assaulted him before any officials were able to intervene.
Ramanjaneya, a resident of Manvi in Raichur district, was identified as the accused. He was seen sitting in the busy bus stand taking pictures of women who were getting off and entering the bus stand. He was not only suspicious but also took pictures of women and young female students without their consent.
As he continued taking photographs, some women sitting near the bus stand became aware of the situation and objected. Their complaints drew the attention of other passengers and members of the public at the site. Within minutes, a large crowd gathered around the accused and questioned him about his actions.
The situation got worse when angry locals took his phone and looked at it. Eyewitness accounts said the phone was full of hundreds of pictures of women and girls. Some said some obscene images were on the phone, which only fueled public anger. The discovery triggered a heated confrontation, and people attacked the man in public.
Local residents shared videos and photos of this incident and the incident attracted widespread attention. As with many other areas in the city, privacy, harassment, and taking unauthorised photos of women in public places were once again raised.
The accused was known as a television repair technician, residents said. Some local residents believe that it had become a habit for him to secretly take pictures of women at the bus stand.
The incident has caused alarm and talk about steps against those who resort to technology to harass or stalk women– all things women and men should be able to do. Women’s rights advocates have called for better awareness campaigns and quick reporting of such incidents to the police.
The contents of the phone would be examined to investigate the allegations. Any criminal offence of privacy violations, harassment, or misuse of digital devices will be investigated, the report said.
The case has generated a lot of interest in the area, and residents are calling for strong legal action if the allegations are proven. The incident serves as a reminder of the need for privacy and the safety and dignity of women in public spaces.
