Public catch man for passing obscene comments at woman

Alert public caught one of the three men, who passed lewd comments at a woman relative of a corporator crossing the road along with her family members near Shivananda Circle on Wednesday night.

When her husband questioned the troublemakers, who were in an inebriated state, they threatened them with a knife. The public, who witnessed the incident, caught hold of one of them and handed him over to the police.

Venkatesh, a suspected rowdy-sheeter at Subramanyanagar police station, Bali, a car driver, and Manjunath, owner of the car, are the suspected troublemakers.

The police said that Suresh Gowda, son of Hegganahalli ward corporator Govinda Gowda, and his family had gone to a restaurant near Shivananda Circle to celebrate their son’s birthday.

After finishing dinner, they were crossing the road to reach their car around 11.30 pm, when a car zipped past them. The occupants passed comments at Gowda’s wife. Enraged by the act, Gowda shouted at them.

The inmates of the car came back and started an argument with them. Venkatesh, who was in the car, got down and brandished a knife at them. Gowda’s wife immediately raised an alarm and passersby gathered at the spot.

As people gathered at the spot, Venkatesh and Bali fled in the car. But the public managed to catch hold of Manjunath and handed him over to the High Grounds police.
A senior police officer said: “The accused were drunk and driving rashly. In a fit of rage, both the parties got into a verbal duel and one of the accused flashed a knife. Gowda, in his complaint, stated that the accused tried to molest his wife and an attempt was made to kidnap her.”

Based on the complaint, a case of molestation and an attempt to kidnap case has been booked. The police are trying to trace the other two accused, said a police officer.