Youth flashes at women near hostel, beaten up

Members of the public caught a 26-year-old man who flashed his private part at women near a women’s hostel at Ramanagara and thrashed him before handing him to the patrolling police.

But relatives of the man, Thousif, claimed that he was mentally challenged and was relieving himself near the hostel when police picked him up and assaulted him. Thousif has been admitted to a hospital.

Police said Thousif was spotted removing his clothing and wandering near the hostel in Yarab nagar on May 5. Some passersby chastised him. They questioned him on learning that he lurked around the hostel for three to four days, but Thousif was said to be rude. The men thrashed him and handed him to police.

The thrashing was so severe that police had to rush Thousif to hospital. The family, on receiving information, created a ruckus at the hospital alleging police brutality.

Thousif’s relatives said he was mentally challenged and was reasoning with police when they caught him. But a senior officer told this newspaper that his family began playing the victim card after learning that a police case was slapped on him.

“We’ve taken up a case of sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of women. We’re yet to take the accused into custody,” Ramanagara police inspector said, adding that the police are also contemplating filing a case on the men who assaulted Thousif.