Woman molested at Bengaluru mall during Christmas celebrations, suspect on the run

Bengaluru: A woman was allegedly molested at Phoenix Marketcity in eastern Bengaluru during Christmas celebrations on Wednesday night. 

Police have registered a case and launched a search for the suspect, who had fled the spot soon after the incident. 

The 27-year-old woman was part of the festive crowd at the shopping mall in Mahadevapura when an unidentified man allegedly approached her from behind around 9.30 pm, touched her inappropriately and escaped before security guards could intervene. 

The woman, who works in a private company, later filed a complaint at the Mahadevapura police station. 

Police are now examining CCTV footage of the mall and nearby areas to identify the suspect. 

One of the woman's friends said the incident happened "in a flash" amid the celebrations. 

"The three of us had gone to the mall to celebrate Christmas. The event was organised by the mall management and music was playing. While everyone was enjoying the programme, this man walked through the crowd, came from behind and touched our friend in an inappropriate manner. She was shocked and screamed to alert us," he told DH. 

He added that one of their friends managed to catch hold of the suspect and slapped him, but four men came to his support and helped him escape before security guards could act, he added. 

“We immediately informed the mall security guards, but despite our efforts, he and his friends ran away,” he said, adding that the suspect was wearing a denim jacket and a blue T-shirt.