Haryana BJP chief's son arrested for harassing girl

Haryana BJP president Subhash Barala’s son was on Saturday arrested by the Chandigarh Police for stalking and harassing the daughter of a senior Haryana cadre bureaucrat.

Barala’s 23-year-old son Vikas, along with one of his friends, was arrested, said police sources.

The incident took place in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday when the 28-year-old daughter of the IAS officer was returning home.

The victim, who is associated with the entertainment industry in Chandigarh, was chased for long by the two accused who were in an SUV. They attempted to stop her by blocking her way several times as she sped away towards her house in nearby Panchkula. One of the accused even got out of the SUV and attempted to enter the victim’s car, but she managed to escape.

The victim said, “I was in a full-blown panic attack by now because they would keep trying to corner me. My hands shaking, my back in spasm out of fear, half in tears, half bewildered, because I didn’t know if I’d make it home tonight. I’m also lucky, because I’m not lying raped and murdered in a ditch somewhere.”

The two accused were released on bail. The police later added charges of attempting to kidnap and threat among other sections against the politician’s son.

The accused were in a drunken state when the incident occurred.

The bureaucrat and the daughter narrated the incident on Facebook. “I suppose it will take her a long time to go back to a normal life,” the father of two daughters said, adding that the goons are from influential families.