Bengaluru, 29 July

An alleged incident of moral policing turned violent in Doddaballapura after a group of around 30 youths allegedly chased a businessman and his female friend from a lakeside to a battery manufacturing unit. The group assaulted them, vandalised the factory and allegedly molested the woman.

The incident took place on 26 July night in Bashettihalli Industrial Area under the Doddaballapura Rural Police Station limits, about 50 km from Bengaluru. Police have detained four accused and launched a search for the remaining suspects.

According to the police, Aravinda Bharadhwaj, a Rajasthan native who runs a manufacturing unit in Veerapura Industrial Area, was sitting in his car with his friend near KG Kuntehalli lake when a group of locals allegedly questioned their presence. As the pair drove away, their car reportedly brushed against a motorcycle, leading to an argument.

The group allegedly chased the car to Aravinda's factory, broke open the gate and entered the premises. They allegedly damaged the car and CCTV cameras, vandalised factory property and attacked Aravinda, his business partner Anupam Kumar and employees with machetes, clubs and knives. Police said the assailants also dragged and molested the woman before fleeing after issuing death threats.

Aravinda suffered injuries to his head, hand and leg, while Kumar sustained knife injuries. Several employees were also injured. Based on Aravinda's complaint, police have registered a case under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against several people.