Bengaluru: Influencer molested as she vlogs; adds 'don't feel safe'

A shocking incident of molestation has rocked the city's BTM Layout area, leaving a local social media influencer traumatized.

Neha Biswal, a popular Instagram personality with over 400,000 followers, reported that she was molested by a boy on a cycle while walking home from work on Tuesday.

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According to police sources, the incident occurred when the boy, riding in the opposite direction, made a U-turn and approached Biswal, who was recording a video blog at the time. The perpetrator groped her before attempting to flee. 

An Instagram user, @nehabiswal120, has reported facing sexual harassment in BTM Layout, Bengaluru. She claims that while she was walking down the street, a boy on a bicycle approached her, greeted her with a "hi," and then inappropriately touched her before quickly fleeing the… pic.twitter.com/R6qXDnVUc8

— Karnataka Portfolio (@karnatakaportf) November 6, 2024

Locals intervened, catching the boy after Biswal raised an alarm. However, several residents urged her to forgive the perpetrator, citing his youthful age.

Undeterred, Biswal produced video evidence from her recording, conclusively proving the intentional nature of the assault. The footage sparked outrage among witnesses, leading to a confrontation with the perpetrator.

Biswal expressed feelings of insecurity despite the support from some onlookers. "The incident has left me shaken," she said in a social media post.

Police have taken cognizance of the incident and are investigating. The incident highlights concerns over women's safety in public spaces and the tendency to trivialize such crimes.

No arrests have been made yet. The investigation is ongoing.