BENGALURU: Swift justice is here, in full public view. A 22-year-old private bus driver was stripped and assaulted by the public and the family members of a minor girl near Sri Basaveshwara Circle (Chalukya Circle) on Thursday after he allegedly harassed the girl sexually.
The accused has been identified as Mohammed Arif (22), a native of Hyderabad in Telangana who was the spare driver of the bus.
The High Grounds police have arrested the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
According to the police, the 15-year-old victim was travelling from Hyderabad to Bengaluru in the sleeper bus. She had gone to her elder sister’s house in Hyderabad. Her sister had booked a bus ticket to Bengaluru for her.
The victim boarded the bus on Wednesday night. Since her mobile phone battery was running low, she approached Arif around 1 am on Thursday and gave him her phone for charging.
Public joins family in thrashing driver
Later, when she went to collect her phone, the accused allegedly demanded that she kiss him in exchange for it, the police said, adding that the girl, however, managed to take her phone.
She then informed her family members about the incident. As the bus reached the busy Chalukya Circle on Thursday morning, her family members pulled him out of the bus, assaulted him, and tore his shirt and trousers. A few members of the public also came in support of them and thrashed the driver after learning about the incident.
The victim’s mother told reporters that when the victim went to collect her phone, the accused demanded that she kiss him in exchange for the phone, closed the cabin door hugged her and misbehaved with her. The accused should not be spared, she said.